A 

COLLECTIOI\ 

OF 

ENGLISH 

MIRACLE-PLAYS 

OH 

MYSTERIES; 

CONTAIIVING 

TEN DRA3IAS FROM THE CHESTER, COVENTRY, AND 
TOY^NELEY SERIES, Y^ITII TY^O OF LATTER DATE. 



TO WHICH IS PREFIXED. 



AN HISTORICAL VIEYV OF THIS DESCRIPTION 
OF PLAYS. 



BY 



WILLIAM MARRIOTT, Ph Dr 







^.v^nfofCo.^,^^^ 






1867 






"^'^o^WashmS^^^* 


o BASEL: 






S C H W E I G H A U S E R 


^• 


CO; 


AND BROCKHAUS ^ AVENARIUS 


, PARIS. 


1858. 







^ 



I^-IL 



CONTEIVTS. 



1'/ 



PREFACE Paj>'e v 

HISTORICAL VIEW OF ENGLISH 
MIRACLE-PLAYS OR MYSTERIES. ,. vii 



CHESTER MIRACLE-PLAYS. 

THE DELUGE ... ,, 5 

ANTICHRIST ,, 16 

COVEIVTRY MIRACLE-PLAYS. 

Joseph's jealousy ... ... ,, 41 

the trial of mary and joseph ... ,, 48 
the pageant of the compa>y of 

shearmen and tailors ,, 50 -/ 



TOWNELEY MIRACLE-PLAYS. 

PHARAO ., 

PASTORES 

CRUCIFIXIO , 

EXTRAGTIO ANIMARUM AB INFERNO 

JUDITIUM ... 

I 



5? 


95 


5? 


109 


5? 


157 


?? 


iCl 


?5 


175 



IV 



CAIVDLEMAS DAY, OR THE KILLING 

OF THE OIIILDKEIV OF ISRAEL . Page 197 

GOD'S PROMISES „ 221 



GLOSSARY 259 



PREFACE 



fhe Editor of the following^ pa|»'es lias been in- 
duced to publish the jji'^sent Collection of Eng-lish 
Miracle-plays or Mysteries , from its appearing- to him 
to be a desideratum. This will no doubt be appa- 
rent, if it be considered, that, although much has been 
done to illustrate the history of the Eng^lish theatre , 
especially of the sixteenth century, not one of the 
various publications on this subject , contains a sing-le 
play of the Chester, Coventry, or Townely series. 
That these dramas are particularly deserving- of at- 
tention, can scarcely be denied , as they are the oldest 
pieces of the kind in existence, and present us moreover 
with the only connected view, that is^ to be had, of 
the manner in which the whoJe Bi]>le was theatrically 
represented. It is also a little singular, that the 
publications of Dodsley, Hawkins and others, afford 
but little information on this subject 5 that of Collier 
on the contrary much more, though his remarks 
are unfortunately too much scattered in his excellent 
work. That so little has been done as yet to g'ive a 
correct view of the ancient history of the Eng-lish 



VI 



stage, is inueli to be regretted, although it cannot 
surprise us , if we weig^h the assertion of Malone , 
that « a minute investig-ation of the origin and progress 
of the drama in England, Avill scarcely repay the 
labour of inquiry." Other writers appear to have 
held the same opinion, and not to have reflected, 
that the early Miracle-plays aflbrd one of the best 
illustrations of the manners and customs of our fore- 
fathers. Moreover we learn from them the opinions 
of our ancestors on various subjects, their manner 
of thinking- , and are perhaps better enabled to judg^e 
of the state of civilisation in wliich they w ere , than 
from other sources. Such must be the lig-ht in which 
unprejudiced minds will regard the ancient Eng-hsh 
theatre , whatever they may think of the later and 
present state of the drama. It must, however, be 
observed, that the following- pages contain, with few 
exceptions , only facts and not remarks on these plays, 
as this volume is intended to be used as a lecture book. 
In conclusion, the Editor must remark , that , althoug-h 
he is fully aware of the imperfections of his attempt 
to g-ive a concise view of the history of Eng^hsh 
Miracle-plays , yet he believes he has not omitted any 
notice of importance recorded by any writer on the 
theatre , or that is to be found in any work that was 
likely to illustrate the subject. 

Dnscl , June oOih , 1838. 



AI\ HISTORICAL VIEW 

OF 
ENGLISH MIRACLE -PLAYS OR MYSTERIES. 



Relig"ion, which has in all countries first exci- 
ted dramatic representation , was the subject of the 
English Miracle - plays or Mysteries. These pro- 
ductions were either founded on the various histories 
of the Old and New Testament, or on the legends 
of the lives of the saints, which latter appear, how- 
ever, to have alForded fewer subjects for exhibi- 
tion. The English religious dramas were, during 
the period of their representation and for a long 
time afterwards , termed Miracle - plays ; most pro- 
bably from the first or cliief pieces being a repre- 
sentation of the miracles of our Lord, or from their 
containing a narration of the wonders of the chris- 
tian faith. In latter times they have been usually 
called Mysteries, under which appellation they are 
at present best known. This term, although at a 
very early date applied to them in France, was 
most probably first given to them in England by 
Dodsley , in the preface to the Collection of Old 



Mil 



Plays, uhicli he published iii 17M. Tlie;^ are also 
in some MSS. termed Pag-eants, by >vliicli name 
they were generally ealled, although not in all in- 
stances, when performed by members of* trading 
companies. 

I\ot a few writers have speculated on the ori- 
g-in of English Miracle - plays , but it must unfortu- 
nately be confessed that their theories afford no 
very satisfactory explanation of the subject. Although 
such is the case, it may not be uninteresting to 
/ quote what Warton says on this point, as he is 
) generally considered the first authority on all sub- 
/ jects connected with English literature. He remarks : 
l « About the eighth century trade was principally 
/ carried on by means of fairs , which lasted several 
( days. Charlemagne established many great marts 
\ of this sort in France 5 as did William the Con- 
^ queror, and his Norman successors, in England. 
The merchants, who frequented these fairs in nu- 
/ merous caravans or companies, employed every art 
■ to draw the people together. They were therefore 
accompanied by juglers , minstrels , and buffons 5 
who were no less interested in giving their atten- 
dance , and exerting all their skill , on these occa- 
sions. As now but few large towns existed, no 
public spectacles or popular amusements were estab- 
lished^ and as the sedentary pleasures of domestic 
life and private society were yet unknown , the fair- 
time was the season for diversion. In proportion 
as these shews were attended and encouraged , they 
began to be set off with new decorations and im- 
provements; and the ar(s o( l)unooner\ being ren- 
dered slill more attractive by e\H*n<ling (heir circle 



IX 

of exhibition, acquired an importance in the eyes 
of the people. By degrees the clerg-y, observing- 
that the entertainments of dancing- , music , mimicry, 
exhibited at these annual celebrities , made the people 
less rehg^ious , by promoting- idleness and a love of 
festivity, proscribed these sports, and excommuni- 
cated the performers. But finding: that no reg^ard 
was paid to their censures , they chang-ed their plan, 
and determined to take these recreations into their 
own hands. They turned actors; and instead of 
profane mummeries, presented, stories taken from 
leg:ends or the Bible. This was the orig:in of sacred 
comedy*. » That Warton has formed an erroneous 
opinion on this subject , seems* not improbable , if we 
reflect that religious dramas are of a much earlier ori- 
gfin than is generally considered; for we have an 
account of a relig:ious play , performed perhaps be- 
fore the final destruction of Jerusalem , but certainly 
not later than the second century , portions of which 
have come down to our day *^. Moreover mention 
is made of relig-ous dramas by writers in the first 
centuries of the christian aera, and althoug-h it is 
difficult to prove that such were performed in every 
ag-e since the time of Christ; which is not to be 
wondered at , if we consider the state of literature 
during- the dark ag-es, and how much has been lost 
in such a period of time, yet enoug-h authorities 
are still existing- to show that such performances 

^ History of Englisli Poetry, vol. ii. pp. 366, 367, edit. 4to. 

*r Ezechielis Tragici Juclaicaruin historiarum poetae , eductio sen 
liheratio Heliraeoriim Tragoedia sacra , exodo respondens : ex libro IX 
Eusebii de Praep. Evang. selecta , et plerisquc in locis castigata. 
Paris ll>90. 8yo, 



have lieeii (rom the earliest times *. The origin 
ol* religious dramas, should this view of the subject 
be considered correct, must be ascribed to the in- 
iluence that the ancient theatre exercised on the 
first christians. It may, perhaps, from the fore- 
g^oing observations, not be deemed improbable, that, 
as religious plays can be proved to have been writ- 
ten in the first centuries , and acted as late as the 
year 990 1, they were not improbably performed 
during the following century, although we have no 
account of it. If this may be assumed, and it ap- 
pears to be no far fetched hypothesis , especially 
as it will hereafter be shown, that the firsV Miracle- 
play performed in England, was written by a French- 
man about the year 1100; and as there are, more- 
over, very good grounds for believing", that the 
earliest English religious plays are, at least in part, 
translations from the French 5 it follows , that what 
are termed Miracle - plays are nothing- more than ,a 
continuation of the sacred dramas , that were written 
since the first centuries. Should this view^ of the 
subject not be deemed correct , the opinion of Percy 
may, perhaps, be considered more satisfactory. He 
remarks, that «they were probably a kind of dumb 
shews, intermingled, it may be, with a few short 

As it does not lie within the limits of these pajjcs to enter on 
this sul»ject more at large, the following notices of works, which 
contain remarks on this point, must suffice. Socrates, Ecclcs. Hist. 
p. 50»> , e<lil. iOGS. Lardner, vol. ii. p. 4Go. 4to. Hone, Ancient 
Mysteries Descrihed , pp. l'4tJ— liJG. Cahinet Cyclopaedia, Literary 
and Scientific Men, vol. i. pp. 174-179. 

t Cedreu , Compcnd. IlisJ. p. (>oO. U. 1047. Commenl. ad 
Canon. Ixii. Syno<l. >i. in 'I'rullo. A pud lt<'>cri{;iuiu Synodic, torn, i. 
pp. '250, ISol fol. Ovon. IG72. 



XI 



speeches; at length they grew into a regular series 
of connected dialogues, formally divided into acts 
and scenes *. " This observation , although by him 
only appUed to English Miracle - plays , appears to 
be at least quite as apphcable to the religious ex- 
liibitions in the first ages of Christianity. 

The first mention of theatrical representations 
in England , is recorded by Matthew Paris , who 
wrote as early as 1240. He relates in his Fitce 
Ahhatumj etc,^ that while Geoffrey, afterwards Ab- 
bot of St. Albans, was yet a secular person, he 
was invited from Normandy by Richard, the then 
Abbot of St. Albans , to teach the school estab- 
lished there *, that , in consequence of some delay , 
when Geoffrey arrived the vacant office had been 
filled , and that he , therefore , took up his residence 
at Dunstaple, and brought out the Miracle -play of 
St. Catherine: — Legit igitur apud Dimestapliam^ 
expectans scholam S, Alhani sihi repromissam ^ uhi 
quendam ludum de S, Katerina^ (qnem Miraeula 
vulgariter appellamus) fecit ^ ad quce decoranda petiit 
a Sacrista S, Albania ut sibi capce chorales accom- 
modarentur ^ et obtimdt^. We learn from the tes- 
timony of Bulaeus, in his Historia Universitatis 
Parisiensis y that Geoffrey was a member of the 
University of Paris, and that he died in 1146, hav- 
ing been raised to the dignity of Abbot of St. 
Albans inlll9§. From the before mentioned quo- 
tation, it is quite clear, that Geoffrey brought out 
the play of St. Catherine long before he assumed 

'^ Reliques of Ancient English Poehy , vol. i. p. 128, edit. 1794= 
t lit. Abb. ad cale. Histois Major, torn. i. p. 06 , edit, 1640= 
Paris 166^. 



XII 



llic reliijioiis habit , aiul coiisideriii[» (ha* he couhl 
not attain tlic digiiily of Abbot, wliicli he o1)laiiie(1 
in 1119, till after a number of years ^ the opinion 
of Percy , that it was « probably written within the 
eleventh century," is lil^ely not to be far from the 
truth*. Bulxus informs us also, that this play of 
St. Catherine was not then by any means a novely : — 
Hon novo quidem inslituto ^ sed de consuetudine ma- 
fjistrorum et scholarum. 

William Fitzstephen who wrote about 1182 his 
Vita Sancti Thomce Archiepiscopi et Martijris ^ to 
which is appended a description of London , says ^ 
— Lundonia pro spectaculis theatrnlihus ^ pro liidis 
scenicis^ ludos Imhet sanctiores ^ reprassentationcs nii- 
raculorum quos sancti confessores operati sunt ^ sen 
reprcesentationes passionum quibus claruit constantia 
mai'ti/rum. This early notice of English Miracle - 
plays was first published by Stow in his Survey of 
London, 1599. He translates the 2)assag'e as fol- 
lows: — ((London, for the shews upon theatres, 
and comical pastimes , hath holy plays , represen- 
tations of miracles , which holy confessors have 
wrought^ or representations of tormentes, wherein 
the constancie of martirs appeared t.» 
/^ It has been supposed, that the pilgrims who 

returned from the Holy Land, and who composed 
songs on their travels, mixing with them a recital 
of the life and death of Christ , contributed greatly 

Kclitjucs , vol. i. p. l^A. 

i* P. 68. II is ucc<'ssai'y to rnnark , in order to mulcrstaiul cor- 
rectly this (juolalion , llia( Fi(/,s(o|)lirn Iiud |>roviously rcfcrrcfl to the 
stale of Ihc theatres in Koine , aiul seems to be dravvinjj a comparison 
betnccn the pnMic aunisemenis there and in London. 



XIII 



to increase the taste for these relijjioiis representa- 
tions; but whatever influence they may have ex- 
ercised in France *, and in other countries , on 
such performances , there is no certainty of there 
having' in any way promoted these exhibitions in 
England t. 

That plays were frequently performed about 
the middle of the thirteenth century, may be infer- 
red from a regulation under the date of A. D. 1 228 
in the Annales Biirtonenses ^ which prohibits stroll- 
ing players from performing in presence of the in- 
mates of the monastery ; yet which allows their wants 
to be relieved, not because they were players, but 
because they w ere poor : — 'Histrionihus potest dari 
cibus^ quia pauper es sunt^ non quia histriones ^ et 
eotnim ludi non videantur ^ vel audiantur ^ vel permit- 
tantur fieri coram Ahhate vel monachis^. 

About the year 1268 Miracle -plays were per- 
formed in Chester, and continued to be acted there 
for many successive centuries ; but as the rehgious 
dramas brought out in that city, form one of the 
three series of Miracle - plays now in existence, they 
will be referred to more at large hereafter. 

Tow ards the end of the thirteenth century , the 
religious ceremony of the Corpus Chi^isti Play was 
instituted at York, and was celebrated each year 
on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. Drake , 

* Some information respecting the influence that French pilgrims 
exercised on the Mysteries of their 0"*vn country , may be gathered 
from Bayle's Diet. art. Cliocquet , wliich contains some observations 
by Menestrier on this subject. 

i* The characters, ho^veyer, in the play of St. George, seem to 
afford proof of an eastern origin. 

§ Gale , Rerum Anglic. Script. Vet. tom. i. p. 457. 



XIV 



the liisloriaii of tin's city, says, « this ceremony must 
have been in its time one of the most extaorJinary 
entertainments that couhl ))e exhibited. Every trade 
in the city , from the highest to the lowest , was 
obliged to furnish out a pageant at its own expense 
on this occasion. » Many orders and ordinances , 
existing in the registers of the city, regulate the 
performance of this religious ceremony. One of 
these recites, that « Whereas for a long course of 
time the artificers and tradesmen of the city of York 
have , at their own expense , acted plays 5 and ptir- 
ticularly a certain sumptuous play , exhibited in seve- 
ral pageants, wherein the history of the Old and 
New Testament in divers places of the said city, 
in the feast of Corpus Christi , by a solemn pro- 
cession is represented , in reverence to the sacrament 
of the Body of Christ ; beginning first at the great 
gates of the Priory of the Holy Trinity in York, 
and so going in procession to and into the Cathe- 
dral Church of the same ; and afterwards to the 
Hospital of St. Leonard, in York, leaving the afore- 
said sacrament in that place; preceded by a vast 
number of hghted torches , and a great multitude 
of priests in their proper habits, and folIoAved by 
the mayor and citizens, with a prodigious crowd of 
the populace attending. And whereas, upon this, 
a certain very rehgious father , William Melton , of 
the order of friars minors , professor of holy page- 
antry, and a most famous preacher of the word of 
God , coming to this city , in several sermons recom- 
mended the aioresaid play to the people; atlirming 
that it was good in itself and very commendable 
so to do; yet also said, that the citizens of the 



XV 



said city, and other foreig'iiers coming- to the said 
feast, had greatly disgraced the play by revellings, 
drunkenness , shouts , songs and other insolencies , 
little regarding the divine offices of the said day , 
and what was to be lamented , they loose , for that 
reason , the indulgences by the holy father pope 
Urban IV. in this part graciously conceded^ those, 
viz. faithful in Christ, who attended at morning ser- 
vice at the said feast in the church where it was 
celebrated , a hundred days ; those at the mass , the 
same; those also, who came to the first vespers of 
the said feast, the hke a hundred days; the same 
in the second; to those also, who were at the first, 
third , sixth , and ninth completory offices , for every 
hour of those forty days ; to those also , w ho attended 
service on the octaves of the said feast , at mattins or 
vespers , mass or the aforesaid hours ; a hundred days 
for every day of the said octaves, as in the holy 
canons, for this end made, is more fiiUy contained: 
and therefore, as it seemed most wholesome to the 
said father WiUiam, the people of the city were 
inclined that the play should be played on one day, 
and the procession on another , so that the people 
might attend divine service at the churches, on the 
said feast, for the indulgences aforesaid. Where- 
fore Peter Buckey, mayor of this city of York, 
[10 Aldermen, 2 Sheriffs, and 21 others whose 
names are mentioned] were met in the council 
chamber of the said city the 6th day of June , in 
the year of grace 1426, and of the reign of king 
Henry VI. after the conquest of England, the 
fourth, and by the said wholesome exhortations and 
admonitions of the said father Vi^illiam being incited, 



XVI 



that it is no crime, nor can it offend God, if good 
he converted into hetter. Therefore , having diU- 
gently considered of the premises, they gave their 
express and nnanimous consent, tliat the cause afore- 
said shouki be published to the whole city in the 
common hall of the same, and having their consent 
that the premises should be belter reformed. Upon 
which the aforesaid mayor convened the citizens 
tog'cther in the said hall the tenth day of the month 
aforesaid and the same year, and made proclama- 
tion in a solemn manner, where it was ordained, 
by the common assent, that this solemn play of 
Corpus Christi should be played every year on the 
vig^il of the said feast, and that the procession 
should be made constantly on the day of the said 
feast, so that all people being in the said city 
might have leisure to attend devoutly the mattins , 
vespers and the other hours of the said feast, and 
be made partakers of the indulgences, in that part 
by the said Roman pope Urban (he fourth most 
graciously granted and confirmed. » 

A solemn proclamation for the play of Cor- 
pus Christi, made on the aforesaid vigil , commands 
on behalf of the king:, the mayor, and the sheriffs, 
that the players «play at the places that is assig- 
ned therefore , and no where else on the pain of 
the forfeiture that is ordained therefore; that is to 
say xls. ; and that men of crafts , and all other men 
that find torches, that they come forth in array, 
and in the manner as it has been used and custom- 
ed before his time. » The following is an extract 
of an order for the regulation of the play of Cor- 
pus Christi, dated the 7lh of June, 1417 5 and 



XVII 



sig-ned by William Bowes, mayor. «It is ordained 
for the convenience of the citizens, and of all 
strang-ers coming- to the said feast, that all the pa- 
g:eants of the play called Corpus Christi play , should 
beg:in to play first at the gates of the Priory of 
the Holy Trinity in Mikel-g:ate, next at the door 
of Robert Harpham, next at the door of the late 
John Gyseburn, next at Skelder - g^ate - hend and 
North - strete towards Castel - g-ate , next at the end 
of Jubir-g:ate, next at the door of Henry Wyman 
deceased, in Conyng^-strete, then at the common 
hall at the end of Conyng^ - strete , then at the 
door of Adam del Bryg^s deceased, in Stayne-gate, 
then at the end of Stayne-gaf e at the Minster-gates, 
then at the end of Girdler - g:ate , and lastly upon 
the Pavement, etc. And father WiUiam Melton, 
willing- to destroy sin, and a great lover of virtue, 
having", by preaching, exhorted the populace that 
ihey would cause to be removed all public concu- 
bines in fornication or adultery; wherefore the 
mayor, by consent of the community, ordained that 
they should depart the city within eight days, on 
pain of imprisonment, unless any of them should 
find g:ood security that she would not exercise her 
illeg-al vocation for the future. ^ The following- list 
of the trading- companies with the parts they played, 
will, perhaps, be found not entirely void of interest*. 
((The order of the Pageants of the Play of 
Corpus Christi, in the time of the mayoralty of 
William Alne , in the third year of the reign of 
King: Henry Y. anno 141^, compiled by Roger 
Burton, town clerk: — 

* Drake, History of York, pp. 225-246. 

II 



XVIII 



Tanners. 



Plasterers. 



Cards -makers. 



Fullers. 
Coupers. 



Armourers. 

Gaunters. 
Shipwrights. 

Fyshmongers , 
Pessyners , 
Mariners. 

Perchemyners , 
Bukhynders. 

Hosyers. 



Sfncers. 



God the Father Almighty creatiug and 
forming: the heavens , angels and arehau- 
gels; Lucifer and the angels that fell 
with him into hell. 

God the Father , in his own suhstance , 
creating the earth , and all which is 
therein, in the space of five days. 

God the Father creating Adam of the 
slime of the earth, and making Eve of 
the rib, and inspiring them with the 
spirit of life. 

God prohibiting Adam and Eve from eating 
of the tree of life. 

Adam and Eve Mith a tree betwixt them; 
the serpent deceiving them with apples ; 
God speaking to them and cursing the 
serpent , and an angel with a sword 
driving them out of paradise. 

Adam and Eve , an angel with a spade 
and a distaff assigning them labour. 

Abel and Cain killing sacrifices. 

God foretelling Noah to make an ark of 
light wood. 

IVoah in the ark with his wife and three 
children, and divers animals. 

Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac; a ram, 
bush, and angel. 

Moses exalting- the serpent in the wilder- 
ness; king Pharaoh; eight Jews admir- 
ing and expecting. 

Mary and a docter declaring the sayings 
of the prophets about the future birth 
of Christ; an angel saluting her. Mary 
saluting Eli^nlieth. 



XIX 



PeutererSi Mary, Joseph willing: to put her away, 

Founders. an ang-el speaking: to them that they 

should go to Bethlehem. 

Tylers, Mary, Joseph, a midwife, the child born 

lying: in a manger betwixt an ox and 
an ass , and the angel speaking to the 
shepherds. 

Chaiindelers. The shepherds speaking by turns; the 

star in the east; an angel giving joy 
to the shepherds that a child was born. 

Goldsmithes ^ The three kings coming from the east, 

Orfeures. Herod asking them about the child 

Christ ; with the son of Herod , two 
counsellors and a messenger. 

Gold - heters , Mary with the child and the star above, 

Mone -makers. and the three kings offering gifts. 

Masons. Mary with the child ; Joseph , Anna , and 

a nurse with young pigeons; Simeon 
receiving the child in his arms , and 
two sons of Simeon. 

Marashals. Mary with the child , and Joseph flying 

into Egypt, by an angel's telling them. 

Girdellers, Herod commanding the children to be 

Naylers, slain, four soldiers with lances, two 

Sawters. counsellors of the king , and four wo- 

men lamenting the slaughter of them. 
Sporiers, The doctors, the child Jesus sitting in 

Lorymers, the temple in the midst of them , hear- 

ing them and asking them questions. 
Four Jews, Mary and Joseph seeking 
him and finding him in the temple. 
Barbers. Jesus, John the baptist baptizing him^ 

and two angels helping them. 

f^yntners^ Jesus, Mary, bridegroom and bride, mas- 

ter of the household with his family 
with six water - pots , where water is 
tui'ued into wine« 



II 



XX 



Smythes, 
Fevers. 



Elennagers. 



Plummers , 
Patten - makers. 

Pouch - makers , 
Botillers , 
Cap - makers. 

Vestment-makers , 
Skynners. 



Cuttelers , 
Blade - smythes ^ 
Shethers, 
Scalers 9 
Bukle - makers , 
Homers. 

Bakers , 
tVateideders. 



Cordwaners. 



Jesus upon the piunaclc of the temple; 
Satan tempting: with stones ; two angels 
administering^, etc. 

Peter, James and John; Jesus ascending 
into the mountain and transfiguring' him- 
self before them. Moses and Elias ap- 
pearing, and a voice speaking: from a 
cloud. 

Simon the leper asking' Jesus if he would 
eat with him. Two disciples; Mary 
Magdalene washing' the feet of Jesus , 
and wiping' them with her hair. 

Jesus, two apostles, the woman taken in 
adultery, four Jews accusing: her. 

Lazai'us in the sepulchre; Mary Magda- 
dalene, Martha, and two Jews admiring^. 

Jesus upon an ass with its foal; twelve 
apostles following' Jesus; six rich and 
six poor men , with eight hoys with 
branches of palm trees, constantly saying? 
blessed , etc. , and Zaccheus ascending? 
into a sycamore tree. 



Pilate , Caiaphas , two soldiers , three 
Jews, Judas selling- Jesus. 



The supper of the Lord and paschal 
Lamb, twelve apostles ; Jesus, tied about 
with a linen towel, washing- their feet. 
The institution of the sacrament of the 
body of Christ in the new law, and 
communion of the Apostles. 

Pilate , Caiaphas , Annas , forty armed sol- 
diers , Malchas, Peter, James, John, 



XXI 



Jesus , and Judas kissing: and betraying: 
liim. 



Bowers , Jesus , Annas , Caiaphas , and four Jews 

Fletchers. striking- and bastinadoing: Christ. Peter, 

the woman accusing- him, and Malchas. 
Tapisers, Jesiis, Pilate, Annas, Caiaphas; two 

Couchers. counsellors and four Jews accusing: Christ. 

Littesters. Herod, two counsellors, four soldiers, 

Jesus, and three Jews. 
Cukes, Pilate, Annas, Caiaphas, two Jews, and 

Water - leders^ Judas carrying- from them thirty pieces 

of silver. 
Sauce -makers. Judas hanging: himself. 

Milners, Jesus, Pilate, Caiaphas, Annas, six sol- 

Tiel - makers , diers carrying: spears and ensig:ns , and 

Ropers^ other four leading: Jesus from Herod 

Cevers , desiring Barabbas to be released and 

Turners, Jesus to be crucified, and then binding: 

Hayresters , and scourging: him , putting: a crown 

Boilers. of thorns upon his head ; three soldiers 

casting: lots for the vesture of Jesus. 

Shermen. Jesus covered with blood bearing- his cross 

towards mount Calvary, Simon Sere- 
neus, etc. 

Pynners , The cross, Jesus extended upon it on 

Lateners, the earth ; four Jews scourg^ing- him 

Paynters. with whips , and afterwards erecting- the 

cross , with Jesus upon it , on Mount 

Calvary. 

Bouchers, The cross, two thieves crucified and Je- 

Pulterers,. sus suspended betwixt them; Mary the 

mother of Jesus, John, Mary, James 
and Salome ; a soldier with a lance , 
and a servant with a sponge. Pilate , 
Annas , Caiaphas , a centurion , Joseph 
of Arimathea , and JVichodemus taking: 
him down and laying him in the sepulchre. 



XXII 



SateUers^ 
Sellers , 
Glasiers. 
Caiyenters , 
Joyners. 

Cat'twrights , 

Cai*ijers, 

Smmfers. 



JVyedrawers. 

Broggers , 
JVool -pakkers , 
IVadsmen. 

Escriviners , 
Lumners , 
Questors , 
Duhhors. 
TaUlyoiires. 



Potters. 
Drapers. 

Lynwever^. 

IVevPVS nfivnUrn. 



Jesus destroyinjf hell; twelve {rood and 
twelve evil spirits. 

The Centurion declaring: to Pilate, Caia- 
phas and Annas , with other Jews , the 
sig^ns appearing: on the death of Jesus. 

Jesus rising: from the sepulchre, four 
soldiers armed, and three Marias lament- 
ing- ; Pilate , Caiaphas , and Annas ; a 
young: man clothed in white sittings in 
the sepulchre and talking to the women. 

Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene with spices. 

Jesus , Luke and Cleophas in the form 
of travellers. 

Jesus , Peter , John , James , Philip and 
other Apostles; Thomas feeling the 
wounds of Jesus. 

Mary, John the Evanorelist, two angels, 
and eleven Apostles ; Jesus ascending 
before them, and four angels bearing a 
cloud. 

Mary , two angels , eleven Apostles , the 
Holy Ghost descending upon them , and 
four Jews admiring. 

Jesus , Mary , Gabriel with two angels, 
two virgins and three Jew s of the kin- 
dred of Mary, eight Apostles , and two 
devils. 

Four Apostles bearing the shrine of Mary, 
Fergus hanging upon it with two other 
Jews , and one angel. 

Mary ascending with a multitude of an- 
gels ; eight Apostles, with Thomas preach- 
ing in the desert. 



xxin 

Hostilers. Mary, and Jesus crownings* her with a 

great number of angels. 

Mercers. Jesus, Mary, twelve Apostles; four an- 

gels with trumpets , and four with a 
lance with two scourges ; four good and 
four bad spirits, and six devils. 

Robert Mannyng-, or as he is more commonly 
called Robert de Brunne, a Gilbertine canon in 
the monastery of Brunne, near Depyng-, in Lin- 
colnshire , translated in the year 1505 an Ang:lo- 
French poem, entitled the ilf«m«e/ de Peche^ y writ- 
ten about the middle of the thirteenth century, and 
which contains a notice of Miracle - plays. 

Hyt ys forbode hym yn the decre 

Myracles for to make or se ; 

For myracles , zyf you bygynne , 

Hyt ys a gaderynt, a syght of synne. 

He may yn the cherche , thurgh thys resun , 

Pley the resurreccyun ; 

That is to seye , how god rose , 

God and man yn myght and los , 

To make men be yn beleve gode, 

Tliaf he ros with flesshe and blode; 

And he may pleye wythoutyn plyght 

Howe god was bore yn thole nyght, 

To make men to beleve stedfastly 

That he lyght yn the vyrgyne Mary. 

Zyf thou do hyt in weyys or grenys, 

A sygbt of synne truly hyt semys. 

Robert Baston , a Carmelite friar of Scar- 
boroug-h, who lived in the reig^n of Edward 11., 

T Robert Grosthead, Bishop of Lincoln, -who died in 12t)5, is 
supposed to be the author of this work. Warton, Hist, of Eng- 
Poet. vol. i. pp. o9, 78, 8^. 



X\l\ 



and accompanied that king- in his expedition to be- 
sieg^e Stirling Castle, in Scotland, is mentioned by 
Bale as a writer of Tragcedue et ComcecUce vulgares*. 
None of these pieces are now extant , but no rea- 
sonable doubt can be entertained that they were Mi- 
racle - plays , for Bale calls his own productions of 
a similar kind , « tragedies and comedies 5 » and it is 
not at all improbable , that some of these religious 
dramas might be in existence at the time when Bale 
wrote , wliich w as towards the middle of the six- 
teenth century. 

Bobert Longlande, a secular priest, and a 
fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, who wrote about 
the middle of the fourteenth century, in his Piers 
Ploughman s Crede ^ puts two lines into the mouth 
of a friar, which refer to the performance of Mi- 
racle-plays in market towns: — 

We hauiiten no taiiernes , ne hobelen abouten , 
At mai'ketes and miracles we medely vs neuerf- 

Chaucer has many allusions to tJ 
dramas , and he represents his Wife of 
ing herself with these fashionable diversion! 
her husband is absent in London , during the' 
season of Lent: — 

Therefore made I my visitations 

To vigilies and to processions. 

To prcchinjis eke, and to tbise pilgrimages. 

To playes of myracles and to mariag^es. 

And wcrid upon my gay skarlct gites §. 

* Scriptor. Illnst. M. Brit. p. 569. Basil 1^537. 

t Sigiiaf. A. iii. b. edit. ll>61. 

§ Thr >\1( of BaJhcs Prologue v. 6157. TyinhitCs edit. 




XXV 



In 155^ , the g'uild of Corpus Christi at Cam- 
bridg-e, on that festival, represented Ludus filiorum 
Israelis*, 

It cannot but be considered a little sing-ular, 
that we have no account of Miracle - plays being: 
performed in London from the time of Henry 11., 
till nearly two hundred years afterwards. That 
there were such exhibitions during* this period in 
the metropolis, can scarcely be doubted, if we con- 
sider that other places of much less importance 
were honored with them. In 1378, the scholars 
or choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, 
presented a petition to Richard II., praying: him 
«to prohibit some unexpert people from presenting- 
the History of the Old Testament, to the g-reat 
prejudice of the said clerg:y, who have been at 
g-reat expense to represent it publicly at Christ- 
mas "^ . » This restraint , if it were imposed , appears 
not to have applied to the parish clerks of London, 
who had been incorporated into a g-uild by Henry IH. 
about the year 1240, under the patronag-e of St. 
Nicholas. Stow acquaints us, that in 1391 they per- 
formed a play at Skinner's Well, near Smithfield, 
in the presence of the king: , queen , and the nobles 
of the realm, which lasted for three days. The 
same authority informs us, that «this yeere (1409) 
was a great play at the Skinners Well , neere unto 
Clearkenwell , besides London, which lasted eig-ht 
daies, and was of matter from the creation of the 
world §. » 

Master, History of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, vol. i. p. S. 
t Warton, Hist, of Eng. Poef. vol. ii. p. 391. 
§ Stow, Chronicle, p. o49 , edit. i613. The aiK-ieut perform- 



XXV 



In 1416, the Emperor Sig^isimind was in Eng- 
land, having- come for the purpose of endeavouring 
to make peace between this kingdom and France. 
He was magnificently received and entertained at 
Windsor; and a chronicle in the Cottonian Col- 
lection g-ives a description of a performance before 
him and Henry Y., on the incidents of the life of 
St. George of Cappadocia. The representation 
seems to have been divided into three parts, and 
to have been accomplished by certain artificial con- 
trivances, exhibiting, first, wthe armyng of Seint 
George, and an Angel doyng^ on his spores ;» se- 
condly , « Seint Georg-e ridyng and fightyng mth 
the dragon , with his spere in his hand ; » and 
thirdly , « a castel , and Seint George and the Kynges 
daughter ledyng: the lambe in at the castel g-ates*." 

The Eng-lish fathers at the Council of Constance 
caused, on the 24th January, 1417, a sacred 
drama to be represented before the g-overnment of 
that city, the subjects of which were, the Nativity 
of our Saviour; the arrival of the 3Iag-i; and the 
massacre by Herod. This play appears to have 
g-iven such satisf iaction , that it was acted again on 
the 51st of the same month before the members 
of the Council t. 

ances of the parish clerks are memorialized in raised letters of iron , 
upon a pump on the east side of Rag- Street, now called Ray Street, 
heyond the Sessions - house , ClerhenwcU ; from which exhihitions , as 
>v(dl as from the well , the parish tahes its name. 

* (]otton M S., Calift. R. II. Apud Collier, Annals of the Stage, 
vol. i. p. 20. 

i* Daclier , an eye-witness , quoted hy Herman , gives the following 
account.: - Am 24ten lag des l>Ionats Januarii. das war auft' Ti- 
motheus lag, da ludcn die RischoU' aus Enj>cland , dcr Rischofl' Salis- 



XXVII 

John Lydg^ate, a monJi of the Benedicthie 
abbey of Bury in Suffolk, who lived in the first 
half of the fifteenth century, and was a most volu- 
minous writer, being^ the author of upwards of two 
hundred and fifty poetical pieces, is said to have 
written Miracle - plays*. 

Corpus Christi day, at Newcastle upon Tyne, 
was celebrated with the exhibition of relig-ious dra- 
mas. The earliest mention of such performances there, 
is in the ordinary of the coopers, dated January 
20th, 1426. They are mentioned also in those of 
the smiths and g-lovers, 1456; barbers, 1442; 
slaters , 1451 ; sadlers , 1459 ; and of the fullers 
and dyers, 1477. By the ordinary of the g:old- 
smiths , plumbers , g-laziers , pewterers and painters, 
dated 1556, they were commanded to play at their 
feast « the three Kyng'cs of Coleyn." In 1552, 
mention occurs of the merchant - adventurers as 
being" concerned in the exhibition of ^Ye plays , one 

burgeiisis, der Biscliof von London, und demnach fiinff Bischoff TOn 
England, alle Riiht zu Costnitz und sonst viel ehrbar Burger daselbst , in 
Burchart \'^^alters Haus , das man vorzeiten nennt zu dem Burgthor , itzt 
zu dem gulden Schwert, allernachst bei S. Laurenz. Und gab ihnen 
fast ein kostlich mabl, ie 3. Gericht nach einander, jedes Gericht 
besonder mit 8. Essen : Die trug man allweg eins mal dar , deren 
al^veg waren 4. vergiild oder versilbert. In dem mabl, zwiscben dem 
Essen , so macbten sie solcb bild und geberd als unser Frau ibr Kind 
unsern Hern und auch Gott gebabr, mit fast kostlicben Tucbern und 
Gewand. Und Josepb stellten sie zu ibr. Und die beiligen 3. Konige, 
als die unser Fraucn die Opffer bracbten. Und batten gemaebt einen 
lantern giildnen Stern , der ging vor ihnen , an einen kleinen eisern Drat. 
Und macbten Konig Herodem, wie er den drey Konigen nacbsandt, und 
Avie er die Hindlein ertodtet. Das macbten sie alles mit gar kostli- 
cben Gewand , und rait grossen guldenen und silbernen Gurteln , und 
macbten das mit groster Gezierd , und mit grosser Demubt Corp. Act. 
et Decret. IS. Constant. Cone. torn. IV. p. 1009. 

"" Ritson , Bibl. Poet. p. 79. 



XXVIII 



of which is assig-ned to the ostmen , and charged to 
the account of the corporation. The drapers, mer- 
cers and boothmen had probably each one, and the 
last mig'ht belong" to the spicers, who appear an- 
ciently to have been a branch of the merchant-adven- 
turers. A law was made by the merchants of this 
city, March 25rd, 20 Edw. IV. for settling the 
order of their procession on Corpus Christi day. 
By the ordinary of the millers, dated 1578, we 
may infer that the Corpus Christi plays were at 
that time on the decline, and never acted but 
by special command of the mag-istrates of Newcastle. 
((Whensoever ,» says that authority, ((the generall 
plaies of the towiie shall be commanded by the 
mayor, etc.»> they are to act ((the antient playe of 
their fellowship, the Deliverance of the Children 
of Isrell out of the Thraldome , Bondage , and Ser- 
vitude of King^ Pliaro.» Thus also in that of the 
house-carpenters, dated July 5rd, 1579, it is or- 
dered, that ((whensoever the g^eneral plaies of the 
towne shall be plaied , » they shall perform (( the 
Buriall of Christ, » pertaining: anciently to the said 
felloAvship. To the same effect it was ordered by 
that of the masons, 1581 5 whose play was ((the 
Buriall of our Lady, Saint Mary the Yirg'in:» and 
lastly, by the joiners' ordinary, in 1589. Of the 
ancient sacred dramas performed by the trading- 
companies of Newcastle , only one has come down 
to our times, entitled, ((Noah's Ark, or the ship- 
wrig:hts ancient play or dirge, » which may be seen 
in JlraiuVs History of Newcastle* ^ from which the 
foregoing^ account is taken. 

^ Vol II. |>p oGJ) - 579. 



XXIX 



The Guild of the Holy Trinity of St. Botolph 
without Aldg-ate , appears , from the expenses record- 
ed in their reg:isters, to have been eng-ag^ed be- 
tween the years 1445 and 1448 , in the performance 
of Miracle -plays ; and to have possessed at this time 
«a rolle of velom,» containing: what is called «the 
Pag"ent of the Holy Trinity *.» 

In the year 1487, while Henry VII. resided 
at his castle of Winchester, on occasion of the 
birth of prince Arthur, on a Sunday, during- the 
time of dinner, he was entertained with a religious 
drama called Christi descensus ad inferos t. 

It is stated in Dives and Pauper ^ a book print- 
ed in 1496, that «to represente in playnge at 
Crystmasse, herodes, and the thre kyng^es, and 
other processes of the g:ospelle, both than, and at 
Ester, and other tymes also, it is lefuU and com- 
mendable^. » 

The accounts of the churchwardens of Bassing:- 
borne, in Cambridg-eshire , for 1^11, contain an 
account of the expenses and receipts for performing: 
the Miracle - play of St. Georg:e. Among- other cir- 
cumstances that are mentioned, it is stated that 
twenty -seven neig^hbouring- parishes contributed mo- 
ney towards fiirnishing: the play , which was acted 
on a stage in an open field in the before mentioned 
parish 1 1 . 

^ Hone, Anc. Myst. Desc. pp. 84, 8S. 

i* Registr. Priorat. S. Swithin. Winton. Apud Warton , Hist. 
Eng. Poet. vol. ii. p. 206. 

§ Sandys , Christmas Carols , Introduction , p. xxii. 

jl Warton, Hist. Eng. Poet. vol. iii. p. 526. 



\\x 



It appears from the Earl of Northumberland's 
Household Book^ 1«512, that the children of liis 
chapel performed Miracle - plays dui^iiig: the twelve 
days of Christmas, and at Easter, under the direc- 
tion of his Master of the Revels *. 

A MS. written in the seventh year of the reign 
of Henry YDI., enumerates certain articles which 
were most probably used in the representation of 
some Miracle-play before this monarch. Among: 
others are mentioned, «A long garment of cloth 
of golde and tynsell, for the Prophete upon Palme 
Sonday.» «Item a httill gowne for a woman, the 
virgin, of cloth of silver. » «Item a Uttill coote for 
a childe of cloth of silver t. 

In the Chapter - house , Westminster, is pre- 
served a MS. containing an account of payments 
of money in the year li>27 , for the entertainment 
of Henry YIH. Among other sums , is to be found 
one for « dyvers necessaries bought for the trymmyng 
of the Father of Heaven §.» 

Ralph Radchffe, educated at Oxford, opened 
in the year 1558 a school at Hitchin, in Hert- 
fordshire ^ and , obtaining a grant of the dissolved 
friery of the Carmelites in that town, converted 
the refectory into a theatre. He was the author 
of several Miracle - plays , the names of which only 
have come down to our times II. 

At Christmas 1S46, the Miracle -play of Jeph- 
tha^ taken from the eleventh chapter of the book 

* Percy , Reliqucs. vol. i. p. I5S. 
t Collier, Annals of the Staye , vol. i. p. 80, tJl. 
§ Ihid. p. 99. 
II Bale, Scriptor. lllust. 31. Brit. p. 700. 



XXXI 

of Judges, and written both in Latin and Greek, 
was acted in the University of Cambridg^e. It was 
composed by John Christopherson , one of the first 
Fellows of Trinity, afterwards Master, Dean of 
Norwich, and Bishop of Chichester*. 

John Bale , Bishop of Ossory , in Ireland , and 
a most voluminous writer, was the author of at 
least eleven sacred dramas t^ of which only four are 
now extant: — i. The three Laws of Nature ^ Mo- 
ses , and Christ 2, God's Promises §. 5. John 
the Baptist's preaching in the IVilderness. 4. The 
Temptation of Christ Bale's plays are deserving* of 
attention as containing the first attempt, by means 
of the stage , to promote the Reformation. The 
following is a short extract from the epilogue of 
The Temptation of Christy in which he attacks the 
Roman Cathohcs, who would keep the people in 
ignorance and from the use of the Scriptures , and 
which passage will afford a sufficient specimen of 
the manner in which he treats his antagonists. 

What enemyes are they , that from the people wyll have 
The scriptures of God , whych are the myghty weapon 
That Christ left them here their sowles from hell to save, 
And throw them headlondes into the devyls domynon. 
If they he no devyls, I saye they are devyls non. 
They brynge in fastyng'e , but they leave out Scriptum est. 
Ghalke they geve for gold, soch fryndes are they of theBeest. 

Eduard YI. is stated by Bale to have written 
a Miracle -play called De meretrice Bahylonica fl. 

Retrospectiye Review , voL xii. p. 9. 
t Bale, Scriptor. Illust. M. Brit. pp. 702 — 70d. 
§ Reprinted in this Collection, p. 221. 
11 Bale, Scriptor. Illust, M. Brit. pp. 675, 674. 



XXXII 

Such attacks as the before mentioned induced 
Mary to issue a proclamation on the 16th August, 
15i55, the object of which was, among: other things, 
to prevent the performance of plays calculated to 
advance the principles and doctrines of the Refor- 
mation. On the 50th of April, l^dG, the Privy 
Council addressed a letter to the Earl of Shrews- 
bury, President of the North, complaining that 
« certain lewd persons, to the number of six or 
seven in a company, naming themselves to be ser- 
vants unto Sir Francis Leek , and wearing his Hvery 
and badge on their sleeves, had wandered about 
those north parts , and represented certain plays 
and interludes, containing very naughty and sedi- 
tious matter touching the King's and Queen's Ma- 
jesties , and the state of the realm , and to the slan- 
der of Christ's true and cathohc rehgion*.» 

In the year ldS6 , the Passion of Christ was 
represented at Grey Friers in London, on Corpus 
Christi day , before the lord mayor , the privy coun- 
cil, and many great persons of the realm t. Strype 
mentions, under the year ldd7, a play with a si- 
milar name , that was acted at the same place , on 
the day that war was proclaimed against France, 
and in honour of that occasion §. On St. Olave's 
day in the same year, the holiday of the church 
in Silver Street which is dedicated to that saint, 
was kept with much solemnity. «At eight o'clock 
at night, began a play of goodly matter, being the 

* Lodge, Illustrations of British History, vol. i. p. 212. 
i* Strype , Life of Sir Thomas Pope , pref. p. vii. 
§ Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. iii. c. xlix. 



XXXIII 

miraculous history of the life of that saint, which 
lasted four hours*. 

Queen Elizabeth, during- her prog-ress in the 
summer of 1^64, visited the University of Cam- 
bridg-e, and was entertained at Kings's Colleg:e with 
a play called Ezechias"^. 

At Tewl^esbury, in the years 1578 and 1585, 
Miracle-plays were performed, which fact is record- 
ed in the accounts of the churchwardens §. 

Carew, who wrote in Queen Elizabeth's time, 
observes, that «the Guary Miracle, in Eng-lish a 
Miracle - play , is a kind of interlude compiled in 
Cornish , out of some Scripture-History. For repre- 
senting: it they raise an amphitheatre in some open 
field, having: the diameter of his inclosed plain, 
some 40 or 50 foot. The country people floch 
from all sides many miles off, to see and hear it; 
for they have therein devils and devices to delight 
the eye as the earl!.» 

Weever relates, that he had «seen Corpus 
Christi plays acted at Preston, Lancaster, and at 
Kendall, in the beg-inning: of the reig^n of James I., 
the subjects of which were the sacred Scriptures 
from the creation of the world **.» 

It is g^enerally considered that the last Miracle - 
play represented in England, was that of Christ's 
Passion y in the reig-n of James I., which Prynne 

Strype, Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. iii. p. 579. 
t Nichols , Progresses of Queen Elizabeth , vol. i. p. 186. edit. 

1815. 
§ Collier, Annals of the Stage, vol. ii. p. 140. 
II Survey of Cornwall, p. .71. edit. 1602. 

P- 

III 



XXXIV 



inlorms us was « performed at Elie House in Hol- 
born , when Gundomar lay there , on Good - friday 
at nijjht , at which there were thousands present*. » 

Althoug^h this historical view of Miracle - plays 
terminates properly at this period, yet we find tra- 
ces of their existence even in the present century. 

The author of tlie Lives of Literary and Scien- 
tific Men states, that in 1809 he «Avitnessed, on 
the borders of Lancashire and Yorkshire, on Good 
Friday, Saracens and Christians, Saladin, Richard, 
and other notable persons , represented by some 
youngs men; whose uncouth, fantastic garbs were 
not the least remarkable feature of the scene. The 
dialog:ue was in verse , and though somewhat mo- 
dernised, bore marks of considerable antiquity t. 

Collier mentions, that a kind of Miracle -play 
is still exhibited in Gloucestershire at Christmas , 
with the characters of Herod, Belzebub, and others^. 

Sandys remarks , that « the Christmas - play of 
St. George and the Dragon is still preserved in 
the western and northern parts of the kingdom II. » 
It may not, perhaps, be uninteresting to give here 
this play as performed at the present time in the 
county of Cornwall ; particularly as the old Miracle- 
play of St. George , from which this is undoubtedly 
derived, has not come down to our days. 

Histriomastix, p. 117. edit. 1655. 
t Vol. i. p. 185. 

§ Annals of the Stage, vol. i. p. 17. edit. 1851. 
11 Christmas Carols, p. 17. edit. 1855. 



xxxy 



CHARACTERS. 

SAINT GEORGE. RING OF EGYPT. 

THE DRAGON. TURKISH RNIGHT. 

FATHER CHRISTMAS. THE GIANT TURPIN. 
THE DOCTOR. 



Enter the Turkish Knight. 
Open your doors, and let me in, 
I hope your favors I shall win ; 
Whether I rise or whether I fall , 
I'll do my Lest to please you all. 
St. George is here , and swears he will come in , 
And , if he does , I know he'll pierce my skin. 
If you will not helieve what I do* say, 
Let Father Christmas come in — clear the way. 

iRetircx.} 
Enter Father Christmas. 

Here come I, old Father Christmas, 

Welcome, or welcome not, 
I hope old Father Christmas 
W^ill never be forgot. 
I am not come here to laugh or to jeer , 
But for a pocketfuU of money, and a skinfuU of beer, 
If you will not helieve what I do say. 
Gome in the King of Egypt — clear the way. 

Enter the King of Egypt. 

Here I, the King of Egypt, boldly do appear, 
St. George, St. George, walk in, my only son and heir. 
W^alk in, my son St. George, and boldly act thy part, 
That all the people here may see thy wond'rous art. 

Enter Saint George. 

Here come I, St. George, from Britain did I spring, 

I'll fight the Dragon bold, my wonders to begin. 

I'll clip his wings , he shall not fly ; 

I'll cut him down, or else I die. 

* 
III 



XXXVI 

Enter the Dragon. 

Who's he that seeks the Dragoon's Mood, 

And calls so angry, and so loud? 

That English dog, will he before me stand? 

I'll cut him down with my courageous hand. 

With my long teeth, and scurvy jaw. 

Of such I'd break up half a score , 

And stay my stomach, till I'd more. 

\_St. George and the Dragon fight, the latter is killedJi 

Father Christmas. 

Is there a doctor to be found 

All ready, near at hand. 
To cure a deep and deadly wound , 

And make the champion stand. 

Enter Doctor. 

Oh ! yes , there is a doctor to be found 

All ready , near at hand , 
To cure a deep and deadly wound. 

And make the champion stand. 

Father Christmas. 

What can you cure? 

Doctor. 

All sorts of diseases , 

Whatever you pleases. 

The phthisic , the palsy , and the gout 5 

If the devil's in, I'll blow him out 

Father Christmas. 

What is your fee? 

Doctor. 

Fifteen pound, it is my fee. 

The money to lay down. 
But, as 'tis such a rogue as thee, 

I cure for ten pound. 



XXXVII 

I carry a little bottle of alicumpanej 

Here Jack , take a little of my flip flop , 
Pour it down thy tip top ; 
Rise up and figfht again. 

[The Doctor performs his cure, the fght is renewed , 
and the Dragon again hilled.] 

Saint George. 

Here am I, St. Georgfc , 

That worthy champion bold. 
And with my sword and spear 

I won three crowns of gold. 
I fought the fiery dragon. 

And brought him to the slaughter; 
By that I won fair Sabra, 

The King of Egypt's daughter. 
Where is the man, that now will me defy? 
I'll cut his giblets full of holes, and make his buttons fly. 

The Turkish Knight advances. 
Here come I , the Turkish Knight , 
Come from the Turkish land to fight. 
I'll fight St. George , who is my foe , 
I'll make him yield before I go ; 
He brags to such a high degree , 
He thinks there's none can do the like of he. 

Saint George. 
Where is the Turk , that will before me stand ? 
I'll .cut him down with my courageous hand. 

{_Theij fight, the Knight is overcome, and falls on one knee,] 
Turkish Knight, 
Oh! pardon me, St. George, pardon of thee I crave. 
Oh! pardon me this night, and I will be thy slave. 

Saint George. 
No pardon shalt thou have, while I have foot to stand, 
So rise thee up again, and fight out sword in hand. 

[They fight again, and thn Enight is killed. Father Christ- 
mas calls for the Doctor , with whom the same dialoquc 
occurs as before , and the cure is performed.] 



XXXVIII 

Enter the Giant Tuvpin. 
Here come I, the Giant, bold Turpin is my name. 
And all the nations round do tremble at my fame. 
Wheree'r I go, they tremble at my sight. 
No lord or champion long with me would fight. 

Saint George. 
Here's one that dares to look thee in the face , 
And soon will send thee to another place. 

[Thej/ fight, and the Giant is killed; medical aid is called 
in as before, and the cure performed hy the Doctor, to 
whom then is given a hnsin of f/irdy grout and a kick, 
and driven out.] 

Father Christmas. 
Xow, ladies and gentlemen, your sport is most ended. 
So prepare for the hat, which is highly commended. 
The hat it would speak, if it had but a tongue; 
Come throw in your money , and think it no wrong. 



There are , besides several sing^le Miracle-plays^ 
three distinct series, — the Chester, the Coventry, 
and the Towneley or Widkirk. 

It is supposed, on pretty g-ood g:rounds, that 
the Chester series is the most ancient, thoug-h if 
internal evidence were to decide the question, it 
would be in favour of the Towneley. All have 
undoubtedly been frequently transcribed , so that 
no correct opinion can be formed concerning^ the 
ag-e in which they were compiled from the style 
in which they are written. «The Banes, » a pro- 
logue to the Chester Plays , which was always read 
previous to the representation, supplies us with 
some data enabling^ us to assig^n a period approxi- 
mating at least to the true one. 



XXXIX 



Revereiide lordes and ladyes all, 

That at this time here assembled bee. 

By this messenge understand you shall. 

That some times there was mayor of this eitie , 

Sir John Arnway, knyghte, who most worthilie 

Contented himself to sett out in playe. 

The devise of one Dom Randall , monhe of Chester abbey. 

This prolog:iie, modernised as it evidently is, 
appears to have been written at a period subse- 
quent to the dramas themselves. From the testi- 
mony of ancient, almost of contemporary documents, 
it is certain that John Arnway was the chief ma- 
g:istrate of Chester between 1268 and 1276*. An 
attempt, however, has been. made to invalidate the 
antiquity of this period by two assertions^ first, that 
the Dom Randall here mentioned was no other 
than the celebrated Runulf , or Randal Hig^den , com- 
piler of the Pohjchronicon 5 and secondly , that the 
period in which he lived will not ag:ree with the 
time when John Arnway was mayor. Randal Hig:- 
den, according: to Rale, died in 1565 t, and even 
supposing: he had attained an unusual great age , 
could not have written these plays between 1268 
and 1276. It deserves to be remarked, that the 
name of Randal is one of frequent recurrence in 
the old archives , whether public or private , of 
Chester. It is not , perhaps , to be disputed , that 
Higden w as in some way , and at some period , con- 
cerned in the performance of the Chester Miracle - 
plays 5 thoug^h in what way is not so clear. He 
may have made several additions, though it is, 

Cabinet Cyclopaedia. Literary and Scientific Men , vol. i. p. 195^ 
t Script. Illust. M. Brit. p. 462. 



XL 

perhaps, more probable that he only translated 
them. A note to one of the MSS. of these pro- 
duetions, informs us*, that Hig^den «^vas thrice at 
Rome before he could obtain leave of the Pope to 
have them in the English tongue 5" and a remark 
appended to another one states , that these plays 
were written by him in i528t. The only way, 
however, of explaining in any satisfactory manner 
the mention of John Arnway and Randall in «the 
Banes, »> is to consider the latter as the translator, 
and that they were previously performed in the 
mayoralty of the former. The Chester -plays be- 
g-an on Whit - monday , and continued until ^Ved- 
nesday. They consist of twenty-four dramas § , and 
were annually performed, with some interruptions, 
until 1577. 

* Harl. No. 2124. Apud Collier, vol. ii. p. 129. 

t Harl. No. 2015. Apud Warton, vol. ii. p. 179. 

§ /. Tlie Fall of Lucifer, hy the Tanners. //. Ttie Creation^ 
by the Drapers, ///. The Deluge , Ly the Dyers. IV. Abraham, 
Melchisedech, and Lot, hy the Barbers and Wax -chandlers. V. Mo- 
ses, Balah , and Balaam, by the Hatters and Linen-drapers. VI. The 
Salutation and Nativitt/, by tlie Wrights. VII The Shepherds feed- 
inr/ their flocls by nirjht , by the Painters and Glaziers. VIII The 
three Kings , by the Vintners. IX. The Oblation of the three Kings, 
by the Mcrijers. X. The Killing of the Innocents, by the Goldsmiths. 
XI. T7ic Purification, by the Blacksniitlis. XII. The Temptation, 
by the Butchers. XIII. TIic Blindmcn and Lazarus , by the" Glovers. 
XIV. Jesus and the Lepers, by the Corvisors. XV. The last Snpper, 
by the Bahers. XVI. The Passion and Crucifixion of Christ , by 
the Fletchers, Coopers, and Ironmongers. XVII. The Descent into 
Hell, by the Coolis. XVIII. The Itesurreclion , by the Skinners. 

XIX. The Appearing of Christ to the two Disciples, by the Saddlers. 

XX. Tlie Ascension, by the Tailors. A'A7. The Election of St. 31a- 
ihias, sending of the Uohj Ghost, by the Fislnnongers. XXII. Eze- 
hicl, by the Clolluers. XXili. Antichrist, by the Dyers. XXIV The 



XLI 



The sacred dramas anciently exhibited at Co- 
ventry drew immense multitudes to that city, which 
was as much owing* to its central situation, as to 
these exhibitions being- sometimes frequented by 
royalty. In 1416^ Henry Y. and his nobles took 
g-reat delig-ht in seeing* the Pag*eants; and in 1456, 
«on Corpus Christi yeven at nyght came the queue 
[Marg-aret] from Kelyng-worth to Coventre , at which 
tyme she wold not be met , but came prively to se 
the play there on the morowe, and she syg^h the 
pag-entes pleyde save domes day, which mig^ht not 
be pleyde for lach of day, and she was log-ed at 
Richard ^Wodes the g:rocer , where Richard Sharp 
sometyme dwelled, and there all the pleys were 
furst pleyde, and there were with her then lordes 
and ladyes.> Richard HI. in 1484, came to see the 
Corpus Christi Plays. In 1486, Henry TH. was 
present at the performance of the Pag:eants on St. 
Peter's day , and much commended them 5 and in 
1492 ag-ain visited the city, to see the plays acted 
by the Grey Friers*. Refore the suppression of 
the Monasteries , the Grey Friers of Coventry were 
g*reatly celebrated for their exhibitions on Corpus 
Christi day; their Pageants, says Dug^dale, « being: 
acted with mighty State and Reverence by the 
Friers of this House, had Theaters for the several 
Scenes , very larg:e and hig^h , placed upon Wheels, 
and drawn to all the eminent Parts of the City, 

Day of Judgment , by the T^^ebsters. Of this series, there are two 
copies among- the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum, one at the 
Bodleian , and one in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire. They 
bear the dates of IGOO, 1607, 1604, and 1S91 respectively. It 
is from that of 1600 the pieces in this Collection are printed. 

Sharpc, Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries , pp. 4, ^. 4to, 



XLII 

for the better Advantag^e of Spectators : And contain- 
ed the Story of the Old and New Testament, com- 
posed ill the old En(rlish Ritlime , as appeareth by 
an antient MS. intitided Liidus Corporis Christi ^ or 
Ludus Coventrice. I have been told by some old 
people, who in their young-er years were eye-wit- 
nesses of these Pageants so acted, that the yearly 
confluence of people to see that shew' was extraor- 
dinary great, and yielded no small advantage to 
this City*.» These plays certainly formed no part 
of the entertainments exhibited by the trading com- 
panies of Coventry. The subjects are for the most 
part identical with those of the two other series, 
but more numerous , consisting of forty-two plays t. 
The Towneley Miracle - plays , (so named from 
being in the possession of this family,) called also 

* Dugdale, History of Warwickshire , p. 116, edit. 1666. 

t I. The Creation. II. The Fall of Man. III. The Death of 
Abel. rV^. Noah's Flood. T. Abraham's Sacrifice. \I. Moses and 
the Two Tables. Til. The Genealogy of Christ. Till. Anna's 
Pregnancy. IX. Mary in the Temple. X. Her Betrothment. XI. 
The Salutation and Conception. XII. Joseph's Return. XIII. The 
Visit to Elizabeth. XIA . The Trial of Joseph and Mary. XT. The 
Birth of Christ. XTI. The Shepherds' Oflering. XVII. Caret in 
MS. XVHI. Adoration of the Magi. XIX. The Purification. XX. 
Slaughter of the Innocents. XXI. Christ disputing in the Temple. 
XXII. The Baptism of Christ. XXIII. The Temptation. XXFV. 
The Woman tahen in Adultery. XXA'. Lazarus. XXYI. Council 
of the Jews. XXVII. Mary Magdalen. XXVIII. Christ betrayed. 
XXIX. Herod. XXX. The Trial of Christ. XXXI. The Dream of 
Pilate's W^ifc. XXXII. The Crucifixion. XXXIII. The Descent 
into Hell. XXXIA'. Scaling of the Tomb. XXXV. The Resurrec- 
Uon. XXXVI. The Three Marias. XXXVII. Christ appearing to 
Mary 3Iagdalen. XXXVIII. The Pilgrim of Emaus. XXXIX. The 
Ascension. XL. Descent of the Holy GJiost. XLI. The Assumption 
of the Virgin. XLII. Doomsday. This MS. was written at least 
as early as the reign of Henry VII., and is in the British Museum 
in the Bibl. Cotton, A esp. D. VIII. 



XLIII 



the Widkirk, are wi'ilteii in a style that may be 
referred to the reig*n of Henry VI. or Edward lY. 
Where the plays constituting: this series were ori- 
g:inally performed , is a matter of some doubt. These 
dramas are frequently called the Widldrk , from a 
tradition, that, prior to the dissolution of the mo- 
nasteries , they belong:ed to the Abbey of Widkirk, 
near Wakefield , in the County of York. This tra- 
dition has marks of a g:enuine character. There is, 
however , no place called Widkirk in the neig-h- 
bourhood of Wakefield, and neither there nor in 
any part of Eng^land was there an Abbey of Wid- 
kirk. But there is a place called Woodkirh in that 
neig:hbourhood, and at YV^oodkirk there was a cell 
of Aug-ustinian friars. Whatever weight there may 
be attached to the tradition respecting: the orig-inal 
possession, must, therefore, be given to the claim 
of this Cell of Monks at Woodkirk. This place is 
about four miles to the north of Wakefield. A 
small relig:ious Community was established there in 
the first half century after the Conquest by the 
Earls Warren, to whom the g-reat Lordship of 
lYakefield belong-ed , and they were placed in sub- 
jection to the house of Nostel. Henry I. g-ranted 
to the friars of Nostel, a charter, .for two fairs to 
be held at Woodkirk, — one at the Feast of the 
Assumption , the other on the Feast of the Nativity 
of the Blessed Mary. This g:rant was confirmed by 
King- Stephen. Now it was at such places and on 
such occasions, that sacred dramas were usually 
exhibited. Moreover internal evidence confirms the 
tradition. Words and phrases that are pecuhar to 
this part of Yorkshire , at least more frequently to 



XLIV 



be heard there than in any other part, and are 
still existing' in the vernacular lang-iiajje of that di- 
strict, in the sense in which they are used in these 
plays, are often to be met with in this series. 
Thoug^h the original possession of this MS. must 
be attributed to the Friars of Woodhirk , yet it 
seems very probable that some of these dramas 
were performed at Wakefield. Thus at the beg^in- 
ning of the first is written in a large hand « WAKE- 
FELDE» and « BERKERS , » the meaning of 
which seems to be , that this Miracle-play was re- 
presented at the town of Wakefield by the company 
or fellowship of the Barkers or Tanners. To the 
second is prefixed « GLOVER PAG...,» without 
the word Wakefield. The imperfect word seems to 
have been « Pagina. » At the head of the third , we 
find «WAKEFELD,» without the name of any 
trade. There are also two more allusions of the 
same kind. In the language as well as the style 
of this series , a diversity may be perceived , arising, 
perhaps, from their not having proceeded from one 
hand , and from the collection having been made 
up partly of compositions strictly original, and 
partly of compositions from other similar collections . 
The Miracle-jilay entitled Secunda Pastornm ^ re- 
printed in this Collection , is , perhaps , the most sin- 
gular religious drama , if such a term may be 
applied to it , now in existence. This series con- 
sists of thirty-two plays t. 

Pcrface to Ihc (Towncley Mysteries," 8vo. I80G. 

f I. Crealio. II. Maclaiio Abel. III. Processus Noe cum filiis. 
IV. Ahraliam. V. Isaac. VI. Jacob. VII. Processus Prophetaruni. 
VIII. Pharao. IX. Cajsar Aujjuslus. X. Aimunc lalio. XI. Salutatio 



XLV 

In what langfuage the early Eng-hsh Miracle- 
plays were written , is a subject of some uncertainty, 
and which is undoubtedly owing:, in a g^reat mea- 
sure, to the destruction at the time of the Re- 
formation of numbers of MSS. that savoured of 
Roman Catholicism *. If we consider , that the first 
piece of this hind we have an account of was writ- 
ten by a Frenchman, that Wilham the Conqueror 
as well as his successors endeavoured to bring: the 
French lang:uag^e into general use in Eng^land, and 
that till the reig^n of Edward III. this tong:ue was 
the prevailing: one in Eng:landt, we shall have 
some reason for concluding^ that this was the lan- 
guag-e in which these performances were first writ- 
ten §. Several verses are to be found in these 

Elizabeth. XII. Prima Pagina Pastorum. XIII. Secunda Pagina 
Pastorum. XIV. Oblatio Magorum. XV. Fugatio Joseph et Marise 
in Egyptum. XVI. Magnus Herodes. XVII. Purificatio Marias. 
XVm. Pagina Doctorum. XIX. Johannes Baptista. XX. Conspi- 
ratio et Captio. XXI. Coliphizatio. XXII. Flagellatio. XXIII. Pro- 
cessus Crucis. XXrV. Processus Talentorum. XXV. Extractio Ani- 
marum ab Inferno. XXVI. Resurrectio Domini. XXYII. Peregrini. 
XXA^III. Thomas Indiae. XXIX. Ascensio Domini. XXX. Juditium. 
XXXI. Lazarus. XXXII. Suspensio Judae. 

* Leland , the antiquary and one of the most enlightened men of 
his age , ^vho was appointed by Henry VIII. to search for and pre- 
serve such -works as might rescue remarkable English events and oc- 
currences from oblivion, was nevertheless a destroyer of MSS. that 
contained any reference to the peculiar doctrines of the Roman Ca- 
tholic religion. He remarks , in a report , that one of his purposes in 
the examination of the diflferent liberaries , was to expel «the crafty 
coloured doctrine of a rowt of Romayne bysshopps." 

t Ellis, Early English Poets, vol. i. pp. 124—126. ed. 1811. 

§ The Abbe de la Rue and Monsieur Chateaubriand are of opi- 
nion , that the first Miracle-play performed in England was composed 
in French. Etudes sur les Mysteres , jjar Onesime le Roy, p. 9. ed. 
1837. There has recently been discovered in the Royal Library at 



XL VI 



plays in Latin , but it is no proof of their havings been 
composed in that tongue^ for it was a custom of 
the early Eng^lish poets to interweave their pieces 
with lines in that languag^e. It must , nevertheless , 
be remarlied, that thoug^h the g:eneral opinion of 
Eng^lish writers favours a French original in prefer- 
ence to a Latin , yet many reasons might be as- 
signed to make it extremely doubtful 5 but as this is 
a subject on which authors are not ag-reed, it is 
useless , on the present occasion , to enter on a re- 
view of suppositions and theories , while eng'ag^ed in 
the consideration of matters of fact*. 

It has been already remarked, that Hig:den, 
supposed to be the author of the Chester series, 
was three times at Rome before he could obtain 
leave to have these plays in Eng:hsh , and not long: 
afterwards a law was passed requmng: «all pleas in 
the Courts of the King", or of any other lord, shall 
be pleaded in the Eng^lish tong^ue t. » Many of the 

Paris a fragment of a play of the Resurrection in Anglo-Norman, and 
■which is supposed to have been composed about the middle of the 
twelfth century. It was published in 1854 by Monsieur A. Jubinal. 

'^ The opinions of French writers on this point may be best 
gathered from Etudes sur les Mysteres , -par Onesime le Roy , Intro- 
duction, pp. IX, XVI— XIX, edit. 1836, and Mysteres inedits du 
quinzii'tne siecle par Acliille Juhinal, Preface, pp. X— XVII. edit. 1837. 

i" 56th of Edward III. It appears probable , that previous to this 
period these dramas were written in Anglo-Norman , if not still ear- 
lier in Latin. Besides the Miracle-play in Anglo-Norman mentioned 
in a former note (see p. XLV note §), two others written in the same 
language have been lately discovered; one of them is by Ilermaim , 
an Anglo-Norman poet, who lived 1127 — 1170; the other by Arch- 
bishop Langton. M. Raynouard has printed in his Clioix de poesies 
des Troubadours a Miracle-play — the wise and foolish l^irgins , a 
drama of the eleventh century >vritten in Latin , French , and the lan- 
guage of Provence. 



xLvn 

plays streng:then the supposition that they were ori- 
ginally written in French, at least show pretty 
plainly that some of them were translations from 
that lang-uag-e. In Le Mistere dii viel Testament 
par personnages y joiie a Paris ^ printed by Antoine 
Verard about 1490, but acted at a much earher 
date , we find the following: exclamation of Isaac : — 

Mais vueillez moy les yeulx cachier, 
Afiin que le gflaive ne voye; 
Quant de moy veudres approchier, 
Peult etre que je fouyroye. 

In the fourth play of the Chester series, we 
find these lines : — 

Also, father, I pray you, hyde my eyen. 
That I see not your sworde so keene 5 
Your stroke , father , I would not see , 
Least I ajyainst it grill. 

The fifth play of the same collection affords 
still further evidence to the same point: it relates 
to King: Balak, and Balaam the prophet. In the 
French Mistere^ the Ass, sorely beaten, thus ad- 
dresses his rider: — 

Baalam, suis je pas ta beste, 
Sur qui tu a toujours este , 
Tant en yver comme en este? 
Te feiz jamais tell chose? 

In the Chester play the passag-e occupies one- 
line more : — 

Ame not I, master, thyne owue asse. 
To beare thee whether thou wilte passe , 



XL VIII 

And many winters ready was ? 
To smyte me it is shame .... 
Nay 5 never yet so served I thee *. 

The fourteenth play of the same series contains 
a prayer that the king- of France may not be ex- 
posed to treachery: — 

And would g:od almightie 
The Kiuge of France might so afye 
In this realme and baronye , 
That they were all so treu. 

The « realme and baronye » could be no other 
than the Mng-dom of France , from Avhence this piece 
must have been imported, and in rendering: which 
into Eng"lish , the translator omitted to adapt to the 
chang:e of country. In the play entitled Magnus 
Her odes of the Townely series , Herod concludes 
the piece with these two lines: — 

Bot adew to the devylle 
I ean no more Tranche. 

We find also small portions of some of the 
plays in French 5 and there certainly could not have 
been any reason for translating- them into that laii- 
guag-e , if they had been originally composed in 
Latin or Enghsh. It appears probable that they 
were omitted , perhaps through carelessness , to be 
translated. Some sentences of the speech of Augus- 
tus Caesar in the sixth, and part of the dialogue 
between the three kings in the eighth play of the 
Chester series, are still preserved in that language. 

* These two extracts are taken from Collier, vol. ii. pp. 154, 
15t>, where other comparisons may be found. 



XLIX 



Miracle -plays were for a long period acted, 
as well as written, by ecclesiastics. This we have 
already seen in the extract g^iven from the Manuel 
de Peche^ as well as that Lydgate, monk of Bury, 
was a writer of sacred dramas. The books of the 
churchwardens of Bassingstoke contain, under the 
date of ii511 , a payment to «John Hobard, bro- 
therhoode preeste , » for a Miracle-play *. The House- 
hold Book of the fifth Earl of Northumberland 
has, among: many other entries of a like kind, 
the two following. « My Lordes Chapleyns in 
Household vj. viz. The Almonar , and if he be a 
maker of Interludys , than he is to have a servaunt 
to the intent for writynge of the parts ^ and ells to 
have none.» «My lorde useth and accustomyth to 
gyf every of the iiij Parsones that his lordship ad- 
myted as his Players to com to his lordship yerly 
at Christynmes and at all other such tymes as his 
lordship shall comande them for playinge of Playes 
and Interludes affor his lordship in his lordshipis 
hous for every of their fees for an hole yeret.» 
A MS. in the possession of the Duke of Newcastle 
affords indisputable testimony of the assistance of 
the clergy. It consists of minute entries of all the 
expenses incurred by the Priory of Thetford from 
Christmas, 1461, to Christmas, 1540, after which 
date the house was dissolved 5 and contains several 
hundred entries of payments to players and min- 
strels , and , in not a few instances , it is expressly 
added, that the plays were represented with the 
assistance of the members of the convent : — 

* Hist. Engl. Poet. vol. iii. p. 327. 
f Apiid Percy, vol, i. p. 156. 

.IV 



11 Henry VIII., «Lusoribiis cum adjutorio Coii- 
ventiis , 2si:» — 12 Henry YIH. , « Jocatoribus 
cum adjutorio Conventus , 2s. * » 

Alllioug'li we liave shown that the clerg-y assist- 
ed in these performances , yet it does not appear 
that they had, at least in latter times, the chief 
hand in them. Such appears to have been the case 
at Chester , York , and Newcastle , w here Miracle- 
plays were performed by trading- companies, each 
g-uild undertaking- a portion of the performance , and 
sustaining" a share of the expense. The authentic 
information reg^arding: the exhibition of the Corpus 
Christi plays at Coventry, extends from 1416 to 
1^91 , and during" the whole of that period there 
is not the slig-htest indication that the clerg:y in any 
way co-operated. 

Miracle - plays were most probably at first ex- 
hibited in churches. Some MSS. contain the di- 
rection, cum cantu et organiSj — a proof that they 
were acted in holy places. In the reg"ister of Wil- 
liam of Wykehan, Bishop of Winchester, under 
the year 1584, an episcopal injunction is recited 
ag^ainst the exhibition of Spectacula in the cemetery 
of his cathedral t. Burnet informs us , that Bonner, 
Bishop of London, issued a proclamation to the 
clerg-y of his diocese, dated 1^42, prohibiting- «all 
manner of common plays , games , or interludes to 
be played, set forth, or declared, within their 
churches , chapels , etc. §. » 

* Apud Collier, vol. ii. p. i42. 

t Apud Warton, vol. i. p. 240. 

§ History of the Reformation, i Coll. Rec. p. 226, edit. fol. 



LI 



It is not very easy to g-ive a clear and correct 
account of the mechanical contrivances used in the 
representation of Miracle-plays, owing: to the differ- 
ent chang-es which must from time to time have 
talicn place in the manner of exhibiting: them in 
the earlier times , from the way in which they were 
acted in the sixteenth century. Sacred dramas, as 
we have already seen, were frequently represented 
in churches , but with what assistance , except that 
of the choir and org:an^ we are ig:norant. They 
were sometimes exhibited in a field , as was the case 
in 1^11, in the parish of Bassing^borne , in Cam- 
bridg-eshire 5 and we find in the play Mactatio Abel 
of the Towneley series , Cain at ploug-h with a team 
of horses, which could not have been shown on a 
scaffold. In latter times they appear to have been 
frequently represented on moveable stages. Arch- 
deacon Rog-ers, who died in 159^, and saw the 
Miracle - plays acted in Chester, g-ives the following: 
account of the way in which they were exhibited: — 
«The maner of these playes weare, every company 
had his pag:iant, vf^^ pag-iants weare a hig^h scaf- 
olde with 2 rowmes , a hig:her and a lower , upon 
4 wheeles. In the lower they apparelled them- 
selves, and in the hig:her rowme they played, beinge 
all open on the tope, that all behoulders mig-ht 
heare and see them. The places where they played 
them was in every streete. They beg^ane first at 
the Abay g'ates, and when the first pag-iante was 
played, it was wheeled to the highe crosse before 
the Mayor , and so to every streete , and soe every 
streete had a pagiant maying-e before them at one 
time , till all the pag:iahtes for the daye appoynted 



VI 



LII 



>veare played , and when one pag:iant >vas neere 
ended, worde was broug^lite from streete to streete, 
that soe they mig^hte come in place thereof, exced- 
ing:e orderlye, and all the streetes have then* pa- 
giantes afore them all at one time playeing-e tog:ea- 
ther*, to se which playes was g:reat resorte, and 
also scafoldes and stages made in the streetes in 
those places where they determined to playe theire 
pagiantes *. » 

Strutt gives the following description of the 
manner of performing these plays : — « In the early 
dawn of literature, and when the sacred Mysteries 
were the only theatrical performances , what is now 
called the stage did then consist of three several 
platforms or stages , raised one above another ; on 
the uppermost sat the Pater Ccelestis^ surrounded 
with his angels; on the second appeared the holy 
saints and glorified men 5 and the last and lowest 
was occupied by mere men, who had not yet pass- 
ed from this transitory hfe to the regions of eter- 
nity. On one side of this lowest platform was the 
resemblance of a dark pitchy cavern, from whence 
issued appearance of fire and flames 5 and w hen it 
Avas necessary the audience w ere treated with hideous 
yelhngs and noises, as imitative of the howhngs and 
cries of the wretched souls tormented by the relent- 
less daemons. From this yawning cave the devils 
themselves constantly ascended , to delight and to 
instruct the spectators-, to dehght , because they 
were usually the greatest jesters and buffoons that 
then appeared :^ and to instrjict , for that they treated 

Sliarpe, Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries, p. 17. ^to. 



LIII 

the wretched mortals, who were delivered to them, 
with the utmost cruelty, warning: thereby all men 
carefully to avoid the falling^ into the clutches of 
such hardened and remorseless spirits *.» 

The Pag-eants exhibited in Coventry by the 
different guilds , were performed on moveable scaf- 
folds , as is plainly proved by numerous entries from 
1450 to 1591 , which are still to be read in the 
accounts of their expenses, and which may be seen 
in the work of Sharp t. The Cappers' Company 
had twelve, and the Drapers' ten men, to draw 
their scaffolds. Only one instance occurs of horses 
having: been employed, and that is in the records 
of the Drapers' Company for 1591 , the last year 
in which they performed. 

The accounts of the various g"uilds contain 
entries of sums paid for machinery, dresses, etc., 
which tend to throw some light on the way in 
which these Pag-eants were represented. The sub- 
ject of the Smith's Pag-eant was the Trial, Condem- 
nation, and Crucifixion of Christ, as will appear 
from the following- list of Characters, Machinery, 
etc. collected from various entries of charg:es in the 
records of this company between 1449 and 1585, 
the last year of their exhibiting:: — 

CHARACTERS. 

God, sometimes Jesus. Peter and Malchus, 
Cayphas. Anna. 

Heroude. Pilate. 

Pilate's Wife. Pilate's Son. 

Manners and Cnstoms , vol. iii. p. 150. 
f Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries, p. 20. 4to. 



LIV 

The Beadle. 2 Knights. 

The Devil. 4 Tormentors. 

Judas. 2 Princes, A. D. 1490 only. 

MACHIIVERY, ete. 

The Cross with a Rope to draw it up, and a Curtain 

hanging: hefore it. 
Gilding the Pillar and the Cross. 
2 Pair of Gallows. 
4 Scourges and a Pillar. 
Scaffold. 

Fanes to the Pageant. 
Mending of Imagery occurs 1469. 
A Standard of red Buckram. 

Two red Pensiles of Cloth painted, and silk Fringe. 
Iron to hold up the Streamer. 

DRESSES, etc. 

4 Gowns and 4 Hoods for the Tormentors. — (These are 

afterwards described as Japliets of black buckram with 
nails and dice upon them.) Other 4 gowns with da- 
mask flowers; also 2 Jackets party red and black. 

2 Mitres (for Cayphas and Annas). 

A Rochet for one of the Bishops. 

God's Coat of white leather, 6 skins. 

A Staff for the Demon. 

2 Spears. 

Gloves (12 pair at once). 

Herod's Crest of Iron. 

Scarlet Hoods and a Tabard. 

Hats and Caps. 

Cheverel [Peruke] for God. 

5 Cheverels and a Beard. 

2 Cheverels gilt for Jesus and Peter, 
Faulchion for Herod. 
Scarlet Gown. 
Maces. 



LV 



Girdle for God. 

A new Sudere [the veronica] for God. 

A Seldall [seat] for God. 

Sceptres for Herod and his Son. 

Poleaxe for Pilate's Son. 



viij«i 
xiijd 



If iiij^ 



THE EXPENSES FOR 1490 , VERBATIM. 

This is the expens of the furste reherse of our players 
in ester weke. 

Inprimis in Brede 

Itm in Ale .... 

Itm in heehyn 

Itm in Vyneg:re ..... 

Itm payd at the Second Reherse in Whyttson- 

weke in hrede, Ale and kechyn. 
Itm for drynkynge at the parent in having 

forthe in Wyne and ale .... 
Itm in the mornynge at diner and at Sopper 

in Costs in Brede 
Itm for ix g:alons of Ale . 
Itm for a Ryhhe of hefe and j gose 
Itm for kechyn to dener and sopp . 
Itm for a Rybbe of befe .... 
Itm for a quarte of wyne .... 
Itm for an other quarte for heyrynge of procuL 

is gowne ...... 

Itm for gloves ...... 

Itm spend at the repellynge of the pag-antte 

and the expences of havinge it in and furthe 
Itm in paper 



vij^ 



vij«J 
xviij^ 

iij^ 






Md payd to the players for 
Inprimis to God 
Itm to Cayphas 
Itm to Heroude 
Itm to Pilatt is wyflfe 
Itm to the Bedull 
Itm to one of the Knights 
Itm to the devyll and to Judas 



XlllJ** 

ob. 



corpus xisti daye. 



iiij^i 

' iiij^ 

ii* 

iiij'i 

.T 
xviij*^ 



LVI 

Itni to Pctiir ami malclius ..... xvi'' 

Itm to Anna ....... ijs [y^ 

Itm to Pilatte ....... iiijs 

Itm to Pilatte is sonne ..... iiij*i 

Itm to an other knigrlite . . . . . ij« 

Itm to the Mynstrell ..... xiiij*** 

Minstrels appear to have taken no inconsider- 
able part in these performances, for we find them 
very frequently assisting* in their execution. It is, 
however, impossible to discover at what time they 
first performed in these exhibitions , as the earliest 
MS. we have of these sacred dramas is not much 
older than the middle of the fifteenth century 5 
though if we may judge from the popularity of 
minstrels in England, even as early as the Con- 
(juest, it is not at all improbable that they assisted 
at a very early period. In the second play of the 
Chester series , « mynstrells playinge » is noted in 
the margin not less than four times 5 and in the 
eighth play of the same series they also tahe part 
in the execution of the piece. The accounts of 
the Trading Companies of Coventry contain many 
entries of sums of money paid to minstrels between 
the years 14d0 and 1590. It seems not impro- 
bable that they, besides performing in their pecu- 
liar quality, acted such parts as required to be sung, 
which certainly would be very appropriate for them, 
and could not have been well performed without 
their assistance. 

We meet often with the character of God in 
these dramas, and this, according to our ideas, 
appears to be highly improper and even irreverent. 

* Sbaii>o, pp. 14- tC. 



It must, however, be considered, that as one of 
the desig'ns of Miracle - plays was to instruct the 
people in the Scriptures , this character was partly 
necessary; at least our forefathers could have seen 
no g-reat impropriety in it, or they would not have 
admitted it in these performances to the extent they 
did. It is worthy of remark, that in the accounts 
of the Cappers' Company of Coventry for ll>6^^ 
the following: entry is found : — « Itm payd to 

God xij*i , » which is the more sing-ular as it 

occurs some years after the Reformation was effected 
in Eng-land. This does not , however , at all prove, 
that even at that time when there was a g-reater 
sense of propriety prevalent, it was considered by 
any irreligious; for we must recollect that these 
plays were g:enerally performed every year, so that 
persons accustomed to behold them from their ear- 
liest infancy, did not perceive those improprieties, 
which would have occurred to others differently 
circumstanced. 

A character even more irreverent than the 
foregoing: was the Holy Ghost ^ who, thoug^h some- 
times represented as a dove , was occasionally as a 
human fig:ure. The eleventh play of the Chester 
series has this personage. The following: entries , 
which are to be found in the books of the Cappers' 
Company, prove that the Holy Ghost was repre- 
sented by a real person : — 

Itm payd to the sprytt of god .... xvj* 

Itm payd for the spret of gods cote . . . ij® 

Itm payd for the malting: of the same cote . viij"* 
Itm payd for ij yardes and halfe of hockram 

to make the spyrits cote . . . • ij^ j'^ 



LVIII 

Of all the various characters that played in 
these relig^ious- dramas, no one appears to have 
acted so prominent a part as the Devil, This can 
be easily accounted for, as he seems clearly to 
have been the harlequin in Miracle-plays , and there- 
fore a g:reat favorite with the spectators. It is not 
unlikely, from the extracts g-iven by Sharpe^, that 
he was usually represented with horns^, a very mde 
mouth (by means of a maslj) , staring: eyes , a larg-e 
nose , a red beard , cloven feet , a tail ^ and was 
furnished with a g:ood thick club. 

Several of the pieces of the Chester and Co- 
ventry series have characters named Expositor y 
Doctor y and Contemplation y whose office appears 
to have been to deliver a prolog*ue , epilog'ue , or , 
as is the case in the thirteenth play of the last 
mentioned series , to make remarks on what passes. 
The following- is the epilogue to this drama, which 
is spoken by Contemplation ^ and is curious on 
account of the introduction of a number of persons 
with Eng-lish names, who are summoned to appear 
before the Bishop '^ as well as that it informs us, 
in the seventh verse , that money was collected for 
the performances. It is necessary to remark, in 
order to understand correctly the first and last ver- 
ses , that the following: play is The Trial of Mary 
and Joseph. 

Avoyd, sers, and lete my lorde tlic buschop come. 
And syt in the courtc the lawes for to doo ; 

And I scliall g-on in this place them for to somowne, 

The that ben in my book, the court ye must com too. 

Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries, pp. i^7 , i>8. 



LIX 



I warne you here all a bowte. 
That I somowii you, all the rowte, 
Loke ye fayl for no dowte 
At the court to pere: 

Both John Jurdon, and Geflfrey Gyle, 
Malkyn Mylkedoke, and fayr Mahyle, 
Stevyn Sturdy, and Jak at the style, 
And Sawdyr sadelere. 

Thorn Tynker, and Betrys belle, 
Peyrs Potter, and Whatt at the welle, 
Symme Smalfeyth, and Kate Kelle, 
And Bertylmew the bocher. 

Kytt cakeler, and Colett crane ,^ 
Gylle fety&e, and fayr Jane, 
Powle pewter, and Pinel prane, 

And Phelypp the good fleccheri 

Cok crane, and Davy drydust, 
liuce Lyer, and Letyce lytyl trust. 
Miles the miller, and colle crake crust. 

Both bette the baker, and Robyn Rede^ 

And loke ye rynge wele in yowr purs. 
For ellys yowr cawse may spede the wurs, 
Thow that ye slynjre g^oddys curs, 
Evyn at myn hede. 

Bothe Bontyng: the browster, and Sybyly Slynge, 
Megfge Mery wedyr, and Sabyn Sprynge, 
Tyffany Twynkeler , fayle for no thynge ; 

Fast com a way 

The courte schal be this day. 



y" 



Several of the Miracle - plays are founded on 
the New Testament Apocrypha. This is more es- 
pecially the case with those of the Coventry series, 
of which eight owe their orig-in to this source. In 



LX 

the eighth play of this series, Annas Pregnancy ^ 
Joachim says , 

So sbulde every curat, in this werde wyde. 
Gave a part to his chanucel , I wys ; 

A part to his parocheners , that to povert slyde ; 
The thyrd part to kepe for hym and his. 

In the New Testament Apocrypha we find in 
the book of Mary ^ Chap. I. v. 5. Their fives were 
plain and right in the sight of the Lord, pious and 
faultless before men. For they divided all their 
substance into three parts : 4. One of which they 
devoted to the temple and officers of the temple 5 
another they distributed among strangers, and per- 
sons in poor circumstances; and the third they 
reserved for themselves and the uses of their own 
family. 

In the ninth play , Mary in the Temple y the 
Bishop says, 

A g-racyous lord! this is a mervelyous thynge 

That we se here all in syght , 
A babe of tbx-e yer ag:e so zynge^, 

To come vp these greeys so vp rigiht; 
It is an hey meracle. 

The parallel passage is in the booh of Mary^ 
Chap. IV. V. 4. The parents of the blessed Virgin 
and infant Mary put her upon one of these stairs 5 
i5. But while they were putting off their clothes, 
in which they had travelled , aud according to 
custom putting on some that were neat and clean. 
6. In the mean time the Virgin of the Lord in 
such a manner went up all the stairs one after 



another, without the help of any to lead her or 
lift her, that any one would have judg-ed from 
hence, that she was of perfect ag-e. 

In the fourteenth play , the Trial of woseph 
and Mary^ the Bishop says, 

Her is the hotel of Goddys veng:eauns ; 

This driiyk shall he now thi purgacion. 

We find in the booh of Protevan , Chap. XL 
V. 17. But he wept bitterly, and the priest added, 
I will cause you both to drink the water of the 
Lord , which is for trial , and so your iniquity shall 
be laid open before you. 

The New Testament Apocrypha has been used 
not only in the compilation of the Coventry series , 
but also in the Chester and Townely. The Descent 
of Christ into Helly founded upon the apocryphal 
g-ospel of Nicodemus, forms part of each of these 
three collections. There can be htttle doubt, that 
the Apocrypha was chosen by the writers of these 
plays as best suited to the barbarous ag^es in which 
they appeared, from its containing: more improba- 
bilities and absurdities. ^/ 

The feehng: of propriety that our ancestors 
entertained was certainly rather of a lax hind , which 
is seen from the contents of many of these plays, 
but especially from the stag'c directions to the se- 
cond play of the Chester series. This drama com- 
prised the creation, temptation and fall: after this 
event the direction in the marg:in is, that Adam 
and Eve shall cover genitalia sua cum foliis ^ whereas 



LXII 

until then stahuni ntidiy el non verecundabimtur *. 
Perhaps our forefathers thought it no indecency 
to {jive such representations, considering: they had 
the authority of scripture for such exhibitions •, but it 
must nevertheless strike us as not a little extraor- 
dinary, that at least as late as the close of the 
sixteenth century such scenes were to be found in 
England. We learn this fact from a play entitled 
The Travailes of the three English Brothers j 1607. 
4to., of which the following is an extract 

Seruant. 
Sir, heres an Englishman desires accesse to you. 

Sir jintJiony Sliirley. 
An £ng:lisliman whats liis name. 

Seruant. 

He calls himselfe Kempe. 

[_Enter Kempe,} 

Sir Anthony Shirley. 

Kemp, bid bim come in, welcome honest Will, and 
how doth all thy fellowes in England. 

Kempe. 

Why like giood fellowes when they haue no money , 
line vpon credit. 

Sir Anthony Shirley. 
And what g-ood new Plays haue you. 

In the second play of the Coventry series, Adam says, 
Se us nakyd be for and he hynde. 



Woman ley this leff on thi pryvyle. 
And with Ihis leff I shall hyde me. 



LXIII 

Kempe, 
Many idle toyes, but the old play that Adam and Eue 
acted in bare action vnder the fig:g:e tree drawes most of 
the Gentlemen*. 

In whatever lig*ht we may be disposed to view 
Miracle -plays, there can be no doubt that the 
public exhibition of them was attended with several 
beneficial effects. They were very useful in the ci- 
vihsation of the people , from their bring-ing: tog'ether 
all classes , and g-iving* them a taste for other amuse- 
ments than those which required only streng:th 
and prowess, and must moreover have been hig^hly 
valuable in an ag^e when few could read, as a 
means of instructing: the people in the truths of 
Christianity. 

^ This extract is taken from a reprint of this play in Bibliogra- 
phical Memoranda, p. 547. Bristol 1816. Of this work only one 
hundred copies were published , and it is much to he regretted that this 
custom of reprinting only a very limited number of scarce books , often 
only twenty - five , prevails so generally , as it tends to make these 
works excessively expensive , and very difficult to procure. 



CHESTER 



MIRACLE-PLAYS. 



THE DELUGE. 



Deus. 
A God that all the World have wrought 
Heaven, Earth, and all o{' nought, 
I see my people, in deede and thought, 
Are fowle rotted in synne. 

My Ghost shall not lenge in man. 
That through fleshlie liking is my fone: 
But till vi shore yeares he gone. 
To loke if they will hlynne. 

Manne that I made I will destroy; 
Beast, worme, and fowle to flie: 
For on earthe they doe me noye. 
The folke y* is thereon. 

For it harmes me so hartfuUie 
The malyce now that can multeply. 
That sore me greves, inwardlie. 
That ever I made manne. 

Therfore Noe, my servant free. 
That righteous man art, as I see, 
A shipp sone thou shalt make the, 
Of trees drye and light. 

1* 



illRACLE- PLAYS. 

Liltle chambers therein thou make, 
And bynding' slich also thou take: 
"^Y'hiu and out , thou ne slake 
To nnoynte it through all thy might. 

500 Cubytes it shall be longe. 
And so of breadeth, to make it strong*. 
Of heighte so, the mest thou fonge. 
Thus measure it about. 

One Window worch through thy might, 
One cubyte of length and breadeth make it; 
Upon the syde a dore shall fit. 
For to eome in and out. 

Eatinge places thou make also , 
Three rowfed chambers , one or two : 
For w*^ water I thinke to stowe 
Man that I can make. 

Destroyed all the "World shall be. 
Save thou, thy Wife, thy sonnes thre; 
And all their ^Vives, also, w^^ the, 
Shall saved be for thy sake. 
Noe. 

Ah Lord! I thanke the, lowd and still. 
That to me art in such will; 
And spares me and my house to spill. 
As now I sothlie fynd. 

Thy bydding-, Lord, I shall fulfill. 
And never more the grecve , ne grill , 
That suche grace has sent me till , 
Among all mankinde. 

Have done yow men and women all ; 
Helpe , for ought that may befall , 
To worke this shipp , chamber and hall. 
As (iod hath bydden vs doe. 
Setn. 

Falh<'r, I am already bowne, 
Anne axe I have, by my crowne! 



THE DELUGE. S 

As sharpe as any in all ttis towne. 
For to g'oe thereto. 

Ham. 
I have a hatchet, wonder kene , 
To byte well , as may he seene , 
A better grownden, as I wene , 
Is not in all this towne. 
Japhet. 
And I can well make a pyn, 
And w*'* this hammer knocke yt in; 
Goe and worche , w*hoiit more dyme. 
And I am ready liowne. 
f^xor Noe. 
And ^\e shall bring tymber , to , 
For women nothing els doe ; 
Women be weake to iindergoe 
Any great travayle. 

Vxor Sem. 
Here is a good hackstoke; 
On this you must hew and knoch: 
Shall non be idle in this floeke, 
IVe now may no mnn fayle. 
Vxov Ham, 
And I will goe to gather slieke , 
The shipp for to cleane and piche : 
Anoynted it must be , every stieh , 
Board, tree, and pyn. 

Vxor Japhet, 
And I will gather chippes here 
To make a fire for yow, in feere , 
And for to dight yo' dynner. 
Against yow come in. 

\_Tunc faclunt signa fjuasi laborarcni cum diversis 
iustrttmetitisJi 



G 



niKACLE-Pl.AVS. 



JVoe. 
Now, ill the name of God, I will beg:in 
To make the sliippe that we shall in, 
That Ave he ready for to s\\yiii 
At the coming: of the floode. 

These hurdes I joyne to; ether. 
To keep vs safe from the wedder. 
That we may rome both hither and thider , 
And safe he from this floode. 

Of this tree will I have the mast 
Tyde w*^ gables that will last; 
W*'* a sayle yarde for each blaste. 
And each thing: in the kinde. 

With topeas he and hew sprytt, 
W*^ coardes and ropes I hold all meete 
To sayle forth at the next weete. 
This shipp is at an ende. 
Noe. 
Wife, in this castle we shall be keped ; 
My childer and thou I wold in leaped ! 
f^xor Noe. 
In faith, Noe, I had as lief thou had slepped 
for all thy frankishfare , 
For I will not doe after thy red. 
Noe. 
Good Wife doe as I the bydd. 

F'^xor Noe. 
By Christ not, or I sec more neede, 
Thoujjh thou stand all the day and rave. 
Noe. 
Lord, that women be crabbed aye! 
And never are meke, that dare I saye. 
This is well sene by me to daye , 
In witness of you each one. 

Good wife , le( be all this beere 
That fhou makes in this [>lace here. 



THE DELUGE. 

For all they wene tlioii art master; 
And so thou art, by St. John! 

Detis. 

Noe 5 take thou thy meanye , 
And in the shippe hye that you be. 
For none so rig:hteous man to me 
Is now on earth lyving:e. 

Of cleane beastes w* thee thou take 
Seaven and seaven, or thou slake, 
Hee and shee make to make 
Belyve in that thou bring:e. 

Of beastes uncleane two and two , 
Male and female , without moe ; 
Of cleane fewles seaven *alsoe , 
The hee and shee tog:ether. 

Of fowles uncleane two, and no more; 
Of beastes as I said before: 
That shall be saved throughe my lore , 
Against I send the wedder. 

Of all meates that must be eaten 
Into the ship loke there be getten. 
For that no way may be foryeten. 
And doe all this by deene. 

To sustayne man and beastes therein. 
Aye , till the waters cease and blyn. 
This world is filled full of synne , 
And that is now well sene. 

Seaven dayes be yet cominge , 
You shall have space them into bringe ; 
After that, it is my lyking 
Mankinde for to noye. 

Forty dayes and forty nightes, 
Rayne shall fall for their unrightes , 
And that I have made through my mighte. 
Now thinke I to destoye. 



8 



MIRACLE -PLAVS. 



Noe. 

Lord, at yoiu*e byclding:e I am bayne, 
Sith noil other grace will gayne , 
Hit will I fulfill fayne, 
For gracious I tlie fyiide. 

A hundred wynters and twenty 
This shipp making tarried have I : 
If, through amendment, any mercye 
Wolde fall vnto mankinde. 

Have done , you men and women all ; 
Hye you , lest this water fall , 
That each beast were in his stall 
And into ship broughte. 

Of cleane beastes seaven shall be , 
Of vncleane two , this God bade me ; 
This floode is nye well may we see. 
Therefore tary you noughte. 
Sem. 

Syrr, here are lyons, libardes in. 
Horses , mares , oxen , and swyne , 
Goates , calves , sheepe , and kine , 
Here sitten thou may see. 
Ham, 

Camels , afses , men may finde , 
Buck , doe , harte and hynde , 
And bea&tcs of all manner kinde , 
Here bene , as thinckes mee. 
Japhef. 

Take here cattes and doggs to , 
Otter, fox, fulmar t also; 
Hares, hopping gaylle, can yee 
Have cowle here for to eate. 
Vxor Noe. 

And here are beures, wolfes sett, 
Apes , owles , mnrnioset ; 



THE DELUGE. 9 

Weesells, squirrles, and ferret. 
Here they eaten their meate. 
Vxor Sem. 
Yet more beastes are in this house ! 
Here cattes maken in full crowse ^ 
Here a ratten , here a mouse , 
They stand nye top^ether. 
Vxor Ham. 
And here are fowles les and more , 
Hearnes, cranes, and byttour. 
Swans , peacocks , have them before ! 
Meate for this wedder. 

Vxor Japhet. 
Here are cocks , kites , crowes , 
Rookes 5 ravens , many rowes ; 
Cuckoes 5 curlewes , w^lioso knovFS , 
Each one in his kinde. 

And here are doves, digg^s, drakes, 
Redshankes, running: through y« lakes. 
And each fowle that ledden makes. 
In this shipp men may finde. 
In the stag-e direction the sons of Noah are en- 
joined to mention aloud the names of the animals 
which enter; a representation of which, painted on 
parchment, is to be carried by the actors. 

Noe. 
Wife, come in, why standes thou there? 
Thou art ever forward, that dare I sweare: 
Come on Gods half, tyme yt were. 
For feare lest that we droTvne. 
Vxor Noe. 
Yea Syr, set vp yo"^ sayle. 
And rowe forth w*^ evill heale , 
For, w*hout any fayle, 
I will not out of this townc. 



to MIRACLE -l'LA\S. 

But I have my {gossips everichau, 
One foote further I will not jjone ; 
They shall not drowne, by St. John! 
And I may save theii* lyfe. 

They loved me full well, by Christ! 
But thou wilt let them in thy chist. 
Els rowe forth, Noe, whither thou list, 
And g:et thee a new wife. 
Noe. 

Sem, some loe thy mother is wraw; 
Forsooth, such another I do not know! 
Sem. 

Father, I shall sett her in, I trow. 
Without any fayle. 

Mother, my father after thee send. 
And bydds thee into yonder ship wend: 
Lohe vp and se the wynde. 
For we be ready to sayle. 

Vxor Noe. 
Sonne , g:oe againe to him , and say , 
I will not come therein to daye ! 

me. 

Come in, wife, in twenty devills waye; 
Or els stand w*hout. 

Ham. 
Shall we all fetche her in? 

Noe. 
Yea, sounes, in Christs blessinge and myne 
I wolde you hyde you betyme, 
For of this flood I am in double. 

Japhet. 
Mother, we pray yow altog^ether. 
For we are here, yo' childer; 
CiOme into (he ship (ore feare of the wedder , 
For liis love th;d you !)ou{>hle. 



THE DELUGE. II 

Vxor Noe. 
That will I not for yo'' call , 
But if I have my gossips all. 
Gossip. 

' The flood comes in fall fleetinge fast. 
On every side it hreadeth in hast; 
For feare of drowning I am agast: 
Good gossip , let me come in ! 

Or let vs drincke , or we depart , 
For often tymes we have done soe ; 
For at a time tliou drinches a q^uarte , 
And so will I or that I goe. 
Sem. 
In feyth, mother, yet you shall. 
Whether you will or not! 

[Tmhc ihit.^ 

Noe. 
Welcome , wife , into this hoate ! 

f^xor Noe. 
And have thou that for thy note ! 

[£■( dtit alapam victa.^ 

Noe. 

Aha ! marry this is hote ! 
It is good to be still. 

A childer! methinkes this hoate removes! 
Our tarrying here hugelie me greves! 
Over the lande the water spredes! 
God doe as he will! 

Ah, great God! thou art so good! 
Now all this world is on a flood! 
As I see well in sighte. 

This window will I steake anon , 
And into my chamber will I gone , 
Till this water, so greate one. 
Be slaked throughe thy mighte. 



V2 



iXoali, aeeordinj}' to the stag:e directions, is now 
to shut the winclo^^s of the ark, and retire lor a 
short time. He is then to chaunt the psahn, Salva 
me^ Dominel and afterwards to open them and look out. 

IVow forty dayes arc fiillie gone, 
Seiitl a raven I will anone; 
If auglit were earth, tree, or stone. 
Be drye in any place. 

And if this fowle conic not ag'aine. 
It is a signe, soth to sayne. 
That drye it is on hill or playne , 
And God hath done some grace. 

A raven is now despatched. 

Ah Lord ! wherever this raven lie , 
Somewhere is drye well I see; 
But yet a dove , ))y my Icwtye , 
After I will sende. 

Thou wilt turn againe to me. 
For of all fowles that may flyc. 
Thou art most meke and liend. 
The stage direction enjoins here that another 
dove shall ])e ready with an olive branch in its 
nioudi, which is to be dropt, by means of a cord, 
into the hand of Noali. 

Ah , Lord ! hlefsed he thou aye , 
That me hast comfort thus to daye! 
By this sight, I may well sayc, 
This ilood ])eginnes to cease. 

My sweetc done to me brought hase 
A l>raiH'ii of olyue from some place; 
This l)etokcncth God has done vs some grace, 
And is a signe of peace. 

Ah , Lord ! honoured most thou l>e ! 
All earthe dijes now 1 sec; 



THE DELUGK. 15 

But yet tyll thou commanile me , 
Hence will I not hye. 

All this water is alwaye , 
Therefore, as sone as I mayc 
Sacrylice I shall doe in faye 
To The devoutlye. 

Deus. 

Noe, take thy wife anone, 
And thy childer every one , 
Out of the shippe thou shalt gone. 
And they all with thee. 

Beastes , and all that can flie , 
Out anon they shall hye , 
On earth to grow and njulteplye : 
1 will y* yt be soe. 

Noe, 

Lord, I thank the, through thy might. 
Thy hyddiug shall be done in bight , 
And , as fast as I may dighte , 
I will doe the honoure. 

And to the oifer sacryfice , 
Therefore comes in all wise , 
For of these beastes that bene hise 
Offer I will this slower. 

[Tunc ecfrediens archd cum iota familia sua nccipiet 
animalia sua et volucres , ei offeret ea et 
mactahit.^ 

Lord God, in majesty. 
That such grace has graunted me , 
When all was borne safe to be , 
Therefore now I am boune. 

My wife , my childer , my meanye , 
With sacryfice to honour the 
W^ith beastes , fowles , as thou may se , 
I offer here right sone. 



I A MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Dens. 
iVoc , to 1110 Ihoii arte full able , 
And thy sacryficc acceptable , 
For I have found the true and stable , 
On the now must I myii. 

W^arry earth will I no more , 
That mauus synnc y' greves sojfe , 
For of youth manfull yore 
Has byn enclyned to syniie. 

You shall now grow and multeply. 
And earth you edefie : 
Each beast and fowle y*may flie 
Shall be afrayd for yow. 

And fishe in sea y*niay flytte 
Shall susteyne yow — I yow behite: 
To eate of them yow ne lett 
That cleane bene you may knowe. 
There as yow have eaten before 
Grasse and rootes , sith you were bore , 
Of cleane beastes , les and more , 
I geve you leave to eate. 

Safe bloode and fishe bothe in feare 
Of wrong dead carrcn that is here, 
Eates not of that in no manere , 
For that aye you shall lett. 

Manslaughter also yow shall flee , 
For that is not pleasant to mee , 
That shedes bloode , he or shee , 
Ought ^vherc amonge inankinde. 

That shedes bloode, his bloode shall be, 
And vengence haue, that men shall se; 
Therefore now beware now all yee 
You fall not in that synne. 

And forwarde now with yow I make. 
And all Ihy seede, for thy sake. 



THE DELUGE. 1^ 

Of suche vcngence for to slake, 
For now I have my will. 

Here I behet the a behest, 
That man, woman, fowle , ne beaste , 
With water, while the worlde shall last, 
I will no more spill. 

My bowe betwene yow and me 
In the firmament shall bee , 
By verey tokens, that you may se. 
That such vengence shall cease. 

That man, ne woman, shall never more. 
Be wasted by water, as is before. 
But for synne, that greveth sore. 
Therefore this vengence was. 

Where cloudes in the* welkin bene , 
That ilke bowe shall be sene. 
In tokennge that my wrath or tene, 
Shold never this wroken bee. 

The stringe is tiu-ned toward yow. 
And toward me bend is the bowe. 
That such wedder shall never showe. 
And this behet I the. 

My blessinge now I geve the here. 
To the, Noe, my servant dere. 
For vengence shall no more appeare; 
And now farewell, my darling: deere! 



IG 



MIR M.r.K-l'LWS. 



A \ T I C 11 1{ I S T. 



Antichristus. 

De celso Ihrono poli, pollens clarior sole, 
Ajfe vos monstrarc 5 desceiuli vos judicare. 
Reges et prlucipes sunt subditi sub me venientes. 
Sitis sapientes, vos semper in me credentes, 
Et faciam flentes jyaudere atque dolentes. 
Sic omues g:entes g:audebunt in me sperantes. 
Descendo presens rex pius et perlustrator; 
Princeps eternus vocor, Christus vester salvator. 
All lordes in lande now belighte 

Tbat will be ruled tbrougbout the rigbte , 

Your sa\'yom* now , in your sighte , 

Here may you safely see. 

Messias, Gbriste , and most of migbte, 

Tbat in the law was you beb eight, 

All mankynde to joye , to dighte , 

Is comen , for I am bee. 

Of me was spoken, in prophesye 

Of Moyses , David, and Esay; 

I am he they call Messy, 

Forebyer of Israeli. 

Those that leeven on me steadfastly 

I shall them save from ano y ; 

And joy, righte as have I, 

AVt^ them I think to deal. 

But one hath lig'ged me here in lande, 

Jesu be bight , I understande ; 

To fui'tber falsehood be cane founde , 

And farde with fantayse. 

His >vikednes he woulde not wounde , 

Tell he was taken and put in bandc, 



ANTICHRIST. 17 

And slayiie througlie vertue of my sounde ; 
This is soth seekerly. 

My people of Jewes he could twayiie , 
That there lande came the never in ; 
Then one them now must I myne. 
And restore them ag:ayne. 

To huylde this temple will I not blyiie. 
As God honoured he therein: 
And endlesse wayle I shall them wyne , 
All that to me hene ])ayne. 

One thinge me g:lades, be you houlde. 
As Danyell the prophett before me tolde. 
All women in worlde me love shoulde. 
And there fayrenes to founde. 

What say you kings, that here bene lente? 
Are not my wordes at your assente? 
That I am Christe omnipotente, 
Leeve you not this eich one ? 
Primus Rex. 
We leeven , Lorde , without let , 
That Christe is not comen yet ; 
Yf thou be he , thou shal be set 
In temple as God alone. 

Secundus Rex. 
Yf thou be Christe, called Messy, 
That from our bale shall us lye , 
Doe before us, masterye, 
A sigine that we may see. 
Tercius Rex. 
Then will I leeve that it is soe , 
Yf thou doe wounders or thou g:oe ; 
Soe that thou save us from wo , 
Then honoured shalte thou be. 
Quartus Rex. 
Houle have we leeved many a yeare. 
And of our weyning:e many a weare; 

2 



18 MIRACI.i:- PI.AYS. 

Au(l thou be Christe nowe comeii here , 
Then maye thou stynte all stryffe. 
Antichristiis. 

That I am Christe , and Christe will he , 
By verye sigues you shall see; 
For dead men through my postee 
Shall rise from death to life. 

Now will I torne all, thi'ou{}h my mighte. 
Trees downe , the rootes uprig:hte ; 
That is marwayl to your sighte. 
That frute growing: upon. 

Soe shall the groe and multeplye. 
Through my mighte and my masterye ; 
I put you out of heresye , 
Ty leeve me upon. 

And hodycs that bene dead and slayne , 
Yf I maye rayse them up agayne. 
Then honour me with mighte and mayne , 
Then shall no man you greeve. 

Forsoth, then, after will I dye. 
And rise agayne , throughe my postee ; 
Yf I maye doe this marvelously, 
I red ye one me leeve. 

Men buryed in graves you maye see. 
What mastery, is now hope ye 
To rayse them up , throughe my postee , 
And all throughe myne accorde. 

Whether I in my godhead be 
By very signes you shall see : 
Bise up, dead men, and honour me, 
And know me for your Lorde. 

\_Herc the dead rise from their graves.^ 

Primus Movtuus. 
O lorde, to the I aske mereye! 
I was dead but nowe live: 



ANTICHRIST. 19 

Now wott I well and witterly , 
That Christe is hether come. 

Secimdus Mortuus. 
Hym honour we and all men , 
Devoutly kneelinge one our ken ^ 
Worshipped be thou there, amen! 
Christ our name is comen. 
Antichristus. 

That I shall fulfill w holly wrytten , 
You shall wott and knowe well it; 
For I am wall, weale, and wytt. 
And lorde of every lande. 

And as the prophet, Sophany , 
Speaketh of me , full witterly , 
I shall rehearse readely. 
That clearke shall understande. 

Now will I die that you shall see , 
And rise agayne, through my postee; 
I will in grave that you put me , 
And worshipp me alone. 

For in this temple a tombe is made , 
There in my hodye shalbe layde 5 
Then will I rise as I have sayde ; 
Take teene to me eich one. 

And after my resurreecion , 
Then will I sit in greate renowne. 
And my ghost send to you downe 
In forme of fier, full sone. 

I dye ! I dye ! now ame I dead- 
Primus Rex. 

Now, seyth this worthy lorde is dead, 
And his grave is w*'* us leade , 
To take his bodye, it is my read. 
And bury it in a grave. 

2* 



Secundus Rex. 
For soUi, and soe to us he sayde, 
III a tombe he woulde he layde; 
Now jjoe we forth all in ahreade, 
From disease he maye us save. 

[Then they pass over to AuticJirist.] 

Tercius Rex. 
Take Ave the hodye of this sweete , 
And bury it low under the greete ; 
Now lorde coniforte us ! we the beseeke ! 
And sende us of thy grace. 
Quartiis Rex. 
And yf he rise sone throughe his mighte , 
From death to life, as he beheighte, 
Hym will I honour daye and nighte, 
As God in every plaee. 

{_T?ieij now ascend from the tomb to the surface of 
the earth^ 

Primus Rex. 
IVow^ wott I well that he is dead, 
For now^ in grave we have him layde; 
Yf he rise , as he hath sayde , 
He is full of great mighte. 
Secundus Rex. 
I eannot leeve hym upon. 
But yf he rise hym selfe alone. 
As he hath sayde to many one, 
And shew hym here in sighte. 
Tercius Rex. 
Tell that my sa\'your be risen agayne. 
In fayth my harte maye not be fayne , 
Tell I hym see with joye. 

Quartus Rex. 
I must mourne with all my mayne. 
Tell Christe be risen up agayne ; 



AJNTICIIRIST. 21 

And of that mirrackle make us feigiic , 
Rise up , lorde , that we may see ! 

[Here Antichrist rises from the dead ] 
Antichristus. 
I rise , now reverence doe to me , 
God gloryfyed created of degree , 
Yf I be Christe , now leave you me 
And worke after my ^vyse. 
Primus Rex. 
O lorde, welcome mayst thou he! 
That thou art good now leeve we j 
Therefore goe sit up in thy see, 
And keep oiu* sacryfice. 

[Here tliey tjo over Jo Antichrist, and sacrifice to 
hiin,^ 

Secundus Rex. 
For soth in seat thou shalte be set. 
And honoured with laude greate , 
As Moyses law that lasteth yet. 
As he hath sayde before. 

Terciiis Rex. 

gracious lorde ! goe siht downe then , 
And we shall kneel upon our ken 

And worshippe the , as thyne owne men , 
And worke after thy lorde. 

[Here Antichrist ascends the throne.^ 

Quartus Rex. 
Hether we be comen, with good intente. 
To make our sacryffice, lorde exelente! 
With this lambe that I have here hente , 
Kneelinge the before. 

Antichristus. 

1 Lorde, I God, I High Justice, 

I Christe that made the dead to rise; 
Here I receive your sacryffice, 
And hi esse you lie she and fell. 



22 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

I will HOW scnde my Holy Ghost, 
You kiiiges also you I tell 
To kiiowe me love, of m%'lite most 
Of heaven , earth and hell. 

[lieve his fjhost descends^ 
Severales Reges. 

A God , a Lorde , mickle of mijyhte , 
Tliis Holy Ghost is in us pighte ; 
Me thinkes my haste is very lighte 
Seth it came iwto me. 

Primus Rex. 

Lorde, we thee honour day and nijjht. 
For thou shewest us in siglite , 
Rig:ht as Moyses us heheig:hte5 
Honoured must thou he. 

Antichristus. 

Yet worthy workes , to your will , 
Of phrophesye I shall fulfill , 
As Danyell phrophesyed untill 
That landes should devyse. 

You kinges I shall advaunce you all. 
And because your regions he hut small. 
Cities , castells , shall you befall , 
With townes and towers gaye. 

And the gyftes I shal beheight 
You shall have, as is good righte, 
Hense ere I goe out of your sighte , 
Eich one shall knowe his dole. 

To the I gyve Lomberdy ; 
And to the Demarke and Hongarye ; 
And take thou Pontus and Italy; 
And Rome it shal be thyne. 

Secundns Rex. 
Granle mercye , Lorde, your gyfts to daye. 
Honour mo will the alwaye; 



ANTICHRIST. 25 

For we were never so riche, in faye , 
Nor noil of all our kyiie. 
Antichristus. 

Therefore , be true and steadfast aye , 
And truely leeves on my law, 
For I will harken one you to daye , 
Stydfast yf you I fynde. 
Enocke. 

All mighty God, in majesty. 
That made the heaven and earth to he, 
Fier , water , stonne , and tree , 
And man through thy mighte. 

The poyntes of thy -privity , 
Any earthly man to see. 
Is impossible, as thinkes me. 
Or any worldly wighte. 

Gracious Lorde , that art soe good, 
That who soe longe in fleshe and blonde. 
Hath granted life and heavenly food , 
Let never our thought be defiled. 

But geve us, Lorde, mighte and inayne. 
Or wee of this shrew be slayne , 
To converte thy people agayne , 
That he hath thus defiled. 

Syiice first the worlde begane , 
Through helpe of high heavenly Kinge, 
I have lived in greete likeinge 
In Parradiz w*'» out anoye. 

Tell we harde takeinge 
Of this theefles cominge , 
That now on earth is reigninge , 
And doth Godes folkes destroye. 

To Parradiz taken I was that tyde , 
This thefes cominge to abyde, 
And Ilely my brother here by syde 
Was after sente to ine. 



24 



miua<;le-pla\s. 



AVllh this chiniipioii we must cliule , 
That iiow ill ^vorlde walketh wyde , 
To disprove his pompe and pride. 
And payer all his postee. 
Helyas. 

Lorde, that madest all thiiige. 
And longe hath Icnte us living-e , 
Let never the devills power springe. 
That man hath hym with in. 

God gyve you grace, houth oidde and younge, 
To know deceate in his doinge , 
That you may come to that likeinge 
Of blys that never shal blyne. 

1 warne you all men, witterly. 
This is Enocke, I am Hely, 
Bene comen his erroiu's to destroy. 
That he to you now shewes. 

He calles hym self Christe and 3Iessi, 
He lyes, for soth, apertely; 
He is the Devill, you to anoye. 
And for non other hym knowe. 
Primus Rex. 

Amen, what speake ye of Hely 
And Enocke, the bene bouth in company. 
Of our blonde the bene witterly. 
And we bene of their kyne. 
Qnartus Rex. 

We readen in bookes of our law. 
And they to heaven were drawe. 
And yet bene there is the common sawe, 
Wrytten as men in aye fynde. 
Enocke. 

We bene those men, for soth, I wrys, 
Comen to (ell you doe amysse , 
And hringe your soules (o heaven blisse, 
Yr >' ^^ero any boote. 



ANTICHRIST. 2o 

Helyas. 

This devilles lyme that coinen is. 
That sayth heaven and earth is his; 
Nowe we be ready , leeve you this , 
Agaynst hym for to mote. 
Primus Rex. 

Yf tliat we here wytt moiie 
By profles of disputacion 
That you have skill and reason , 
With you we will ahyde. 

Seciindus Rex. 

Yf your skills may doe hym downe , 
To dye with you we will be boune. 
In hope of salvacion, 
Whatsoever betyde. 

Enocke. 

To doe hym downe we shall assaye 
Through mighte of Jesee , borne of a maye , 
By righte and reason , as you shall say , 
And that shall well here. 

And for that cause hether we be sente 
By Jesu Christe , omnipotente , 
And that you shall not albe shente , 
He bought you all full deare. 

Be glade therefore and make good cheare, — 
And I doe reade as I doe leare, — 
For we be comen in good mannere. 
To save you every one. 

And dreade you not for that false feynde ; 
For you shall see hym east behynde. 
Or we departe, or from hym wynde. 
And shame shall light hym one. 

[Mere Enoch and Elijah shall pass over to Antichrist.^ 

Saye, thou verye devilles lyme. 
That sitts soe grysely and so gryme. 



<2<» >IIRA«;i.E- PLAYS. 

From liyin thou came and shall to liyiu , 
For many a soulc thou deceives. 

Thou haste deceived men many a daye 
And made the people to thy paye , 
And hcwiched them into a wrong^e waye 
^Vickedly w*** thy wyles. 
^ntichristus. 

False features from me you tley ! 
Ame not I most in majesty? 
A\'hat men dare name them thus to me , 
Or make such distaunce? 
Helyas. 

Fye one the feature ! fye one thee ! 
The devilles owne nurry! 

Through hym thou preachest and haste posty 
A while, through sufFeraunce. 
u4ntichr{stHS , 

O , ye ypocrytes that soe cryen ! 
Lossels lordens , soe lewdly lyen ! 
To spill my lawe , you spine! 
That speach is g:ood to spare. 

You that my true fayth defyne ! 
And needles my folhe deiryne. 
From hense hastely you hyne ! 
To you comes sorrowe and care. 

Enocke. 
Thy sorro^vc and care come one thy head! 
For falsely, through thy wicked read. 
Thy people is put to payne. 
I >\oulde thy hody were from thy head 
Twenty mylcs from it lead. 
Tell I hrought yt againc. 

yintichristus. 
But I shall teach you curtcscye, 
VOiir s;uijoMi- (<► kn(H\(> anon in hyc! 



ANTICHRIST. 

False theffes , w*^ your heresyc , 
And yf you dare abyde — 
Helyas. 
Yes, for soth , for all thy pride, 
Throug^h grace of God all night , 
Here we porpose for to ahyde : 
And all the worlde that is soe wyde 
Shall wounder one the one every syde, 
Sone in all mens sighte. 

Antichrist us. 
Out one you theefles! bouth two , 
Eich man maye see you be soe , 
Alby your arraye. 

Muffled in mantles non such I know, 
I shall make you lowte full lowe , 
Or I departe you froe. 
To know me Lorde for aye. 

Enocke. 

We be no theefles we the tell. 
Thou false feynde, comen from hell! 
With thee we porpose for to mell , 
My fellowe and I, in feare. 

To knowe thy power and thy mig:hte , 
As we these king:es , have be heig^ht , 
And there to we be ready dighte , 
That all men nowe maye heare. 

Antichrist lis. 

My mighte is moste I tell to thee, 
I died , I rose , through my postee. 
That all these kinges saw with theyr eye , 
And every man and wiff. 

And myrrackles and marveyles , I did , also , 
I consell you therefore bouth two 
To worshipp me, and no moe , 
And let us nowe no more stryve. 



27 



*2l\ MIU\(,LE-rL.\\S. 

Jlelyas. 

They were no myrrackles, but maweless thinp^s, 
That thou showest unto these kinjjs , 
I'hroujjh tliy feyndes crafte. 

And as the flower now sprinjjs 
Fayleth fayth and heinp;s 
So thy joye it reig-nes 
That shaihe frome the rafte. 
Antichristns. 

Out one the thcefle that sitts soe still! 
Why wylt thou not speake them till. 

Docter. 

lorde master, what shall I say then? 

Antichristus. 

1 beshew both thy .... 
Arte thou nowe for to hene, 
I fayth, I shall the greeve. 

Of my Godhead I made thee wise , 
And set the ever at mickle price, 
Now I woulde feele thy g:ood advise. 
And lieare ^vhat thou woulde saye. 

These losells they woulde me greeve. 
And nothinge one me they wille leeve, 
But ever be ready me to reprove, 
And all the people of my law. 
Doctev. 

O Lorde thou arte soe mickle of mighte. 
Me Ihinke thou should mey chide no feight; 
But curse them all, through thy miglite , 
Then shal they fare full yll. 

For those thou blesses they shall well speetl , 
And those thou curses they are but dead; 
This is my consell and my read 
YcmmI*'!- herclylies for (o sjjlll. 



ANTICHRIST. ii9 

Antichristus, 

The same I porposed, leeve thou to mo, 
All thiiijjes I know through my postee, 
But yet thy ^vytt I thought to se 
What was thy intente. 

Yt shall doniie, right witterly. 
The sentence geven full openly 
With my mouth truely 
Upon them shal he hente. 

My curse I geve you to amende 
Your meales. 

From your heade unto your heeles, 
W^alke you forth, in twenty devills way! 
Enocke. 

Yea thou shall never come inclysse. 
For falsely with thy wyles. 
The people is put in payne. 
Antichristus. 

Out one you theefles ! why fare you this? 
W^hether had you rather have paine or hies , 
I maye you save from all amysse. 

I made the daye and eke the nighte , 
And all thinges that is one earth growinge; 
Flowers freshe that fayer can springe; 
Also I made all other thinge — 
The starres that he so hrighte. 
Helyas. 

Thou lyest ! vengence one thee fall ! 
Out one thee , wretch ! wroth thee I shall ! 
Thou callest thee kinge and lorde of all! 
A feeynde is the wdthin! 

Antichristus. 

Thou lyest falsely, I thee tell! 
Thou wylt he damned into hell. 
I made the man of fleshe and fell , 
And all that is lyveinge. 



50 MIRVCLi; -PLAYS. 

For odicr {jodes liave yon uowc. 
Therefore >vorsliippe me alone , 
The \\*^^ halh made the water and stone. 
And all at my lykehig'. 

EJnocke. 

For solh, Ihon lyest falsely; 
Thou art a feynde comen to anoye 
Ixodes people that standeth us by. 
In hell 1 woulde thou were! 
Helyas. 

Fye on the felloe! fye on the! Fye ; 
For all thy wicherafte and sorcerye! 
To mote with the I ain readye, 
That all this peoj^le maye here. 

yiiitichristiis. 
Out one you harlotts! whense come ye? 
Where have you any other (jod but me? 

Enocke. 
Yes Christe , God in Trenity, 
Thou false feature attaynte — 
That sent his sonne from heaven see , 
That for mankynde dyed one roode tree. 
That shall sone make the to flee , 
Thou feature false and faynte! 

yinticliristns. 
Rybhaldes ruled out of raye! 
AVhat is the Trenety for to saye ? 

Helyas. 
Thre person esas thou leeve maye 
In one Godhead in free. 

Father and Sonne , that is no ney , 
And the Holy Ghost, styrringe aye. 
That is one God verey , 
Hene all (lire iiain<>d here. 



ANTICHRIST. 

udntichristiis. 

Out one you theefles! what sayeii yeeV 
Will ye have one God and Thre? 
How dare you soe saye? 

Madmen therefore leeve one me 
That am one God, soe is not hee. 
Then maye you live in joye and lee , 
All this lande I dare laye. 
Enocke. 

Ney tyrante , understand thou this 
Without he^yninge his Godhead is , 
And also without endinge is. 
Thus fully leeven we.* 

And thou that ingendered was amysse, 
Haste hegyninge and noro this hliss , 
An ende shall have, no dreade there is. 
Full fowle as men shall se. 

Antichristus . 

W^reches gowles, you be blente! 
Gode Sonne I am , from hym sente ! 
How dare you maynteyne your intente, 
Seith he and I he one? 

Have I not synce I came hym froe , 
Made the dead to rise and goe. 
And to men I sent my ghoste alsoe 
That leeved me upon. 

Helyas. ' 

Fye one the , fellow ! fye one the ! fye ! 
For through his mighte and his mastry , 
By sufferaunce of God Almighty, 
The people is hlente through the. 

Yf those men be raysed witterly, 
W^ithout the devills fantasye , 
Here shalbe provyd perfectly. 
That all men shall se. 



Mill VCI.K- PLAYS. 

^intichvistus. 
A foolcs 1 red you Iceve iiic upon. 
To the people every eicli one , 
To put them out of doiil)te. 

Therefore I red you liastely, 
Converted to me most miglitely , — 
I shall you save from anoye. 
And that I anie ahoute. 
Enocke. 
IVow of thy myrrackles woulde I se. 

Helyas. 
Therefore comen hether bene we. 
Doe what is thy j>reat postee , 
And sone thereof to leeve. 
Antichristus. 
Sone maye you se, yf you will ahyde, 
For I will neither f eight ney chide; 
Of all the worlde that is soe wyde 
Therein is not my peace. 
Enocke. 
Bringe forth these men here in our sighte 
That thou hast raysed agaynst the ri{)hte, 
Yf thou he soe mickle of mighte 
To make them eate and drinke. 

For very j*-od we will the knowe. 
Such a si(»ne if thou wylt show, 
And doe thee reverence one a row. 
All at thy lykeinjye. 

yintichristus. 
Wreches dampned al be yee , 
But noupjht for that it fallelh me. 
As j|i'a<*io?is Ciod abydinjje be, 
Yf you will mende your life. 

You dca<l men rise, throujjh my postee; 
Coinr eaie .(iid drinke llial- men maye se , 



ANTICHRIST. 

And prove me worthy of dyety, 
Soe shal we stynte al stryffe. 
Primus Mortiius. 

Lorde, thy hydinjye I will doe aye, 
And for to eate I will assay e. 
Secundiis Mortiius. 

And I will al that I maye , 
Will doe thy Lyding^e here. 
Helyas. 

Have here bread bouth two. 
But I must hlesse yt or I g:oe. 
That the feynde, mankyndes foe. 
One yt have no power. 

This bread I blesse with my hande, 
In Jesus name, I understande 
The wh<^^ is lorde of sea and lande. 
And hing:e in heaven soe hye. 

In nomine Patris, that all hath wroug"ht, 
JEt Filii Virginis , that deare us boug:ht , — 
Et Spiritus Sancti, is all my thoug-ht, — 
One God and persons thre. 
Primus Mortuus. 

Alas! put that breade out of my sig:hte. 
To lohe one yt I ame not lighte ; 
That printe that is upon yt pighte , 
That putts me to greate feare. 
Secundus Mortuus. 

To loke one yt I ame not lighte , 
That bread to me it is soe brighte , 
And is my foe bouth daye and nig:hte. 
And putts me to g:reate dreade. 
Enocke. 

Nowe , you men that hath done amysse , 
You see well what his power is, 
Convertes to hym I red , I wys 
That you one rood hath bougihte. 

5 



MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Tercius Rex. 

And nowc we know appeartely 

We have bene broughte in heresye, 

\Vti» you to death we will for thy. 

And never more torne our thoughte. 

Quartus Rex, 
Nowc 5 Enocke and Ilely , yt is no ney , 
You have taunted the tyrrant this same daye. 
Blessed Le Jesu, borne of a maye. 
One hym I leeve upon. 

Primus Rex. 
Thou feature fere w**^ fantasye, 
W"' soreerye, wiehcrafte and nigremy 
Thou hast us led in heresye, 
Fye one thy workes eich one. 

Secundus Rex. 
Jesu, for thy mickle grace, 
Forgevc us al our trespasse , 
And bring us to thy heavenly place. 
As thou art God and man. 

IVowe ame I wise made through thy mighte . 
Blessed be thou Jesu daye and nighte! 
This greesly groome greetes hym to feighte, 
To slea us here anon. 

Tercius Rex. 
Of our lyves let us not reach, 
Though we be slayne of such a wrech. 
For Jesu his sake that maye us leech. 
Our soules to bringe to blisse. 

Quartus Rex. 
That was well s.iydc, and soc I assente 
To dye , for soth is my intente , 
For Christes sake, omnipotente. 
In cause that is righte wise. 



ANTICHRIST. 55 

Antichristus. 
A false features toriie you nowe! 
You shalbe slayne, I make a vowe; 
And those traytors tliat soe turned you, 
I shall make them unfeayne. 

That all other by very sig:hte 
Shall knowe that I ame most of mighte ; 
For w*'' this sworde nowe will I feig:hte , 
For al you shalhe slayne. 

[JTere Antichristus kills them.] 

MichaeU. 
Antichristus nowe is comen this daye, 
Reigne no longer thou ney maye , 
He that hath led thee allwaye , 
Nowe hym thou must goe to. 

IVo more men shalbe slayne by the , 
My Lorde will dead that thou be. 
He that gyven the this postee 
Thy soule shall under soe. 

In synne ingeudered fyrst thou was; 
In synne leade thy life thou hast; 
In synne nowe an ende thou made. 
That marred hath many one. 

Thre yeares and halfe one, witterly, 
Thou hast had leeve to destroye 
Godes people wickedly. 
Through thy fowle read. 

Nowe thou shalt knowe and witt, in hye , 
That more is Godes majesty, 
Than eke the devills and thyne thereby. 
For nowe thou shalt be dead. 

Thou hast ever served Sathanas, 
And had his power in every place; 

5* 



56 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Tlioroforo llioii [fctts no other grace , 
Willi Iiym thou must gone. 

[//ere 3l{chaell shall hill yintichristus , mid y^uii 
christus shall call aloud , Help ! help ! help /] 

^ntichristtis. 
Ilelpe , Sathanas and Lucifiier ! 
Belzaliuhh , l)olde Balacheire ! 
Ragnell^ Ragnell, thou art my dearc ! 
Nowe face I wounder evill. 

Alas ! alas ! where is my power ? 
Alas ! my wittes is in a were ! 
iVowe bodye and soule Loutli in feare , 
And all goeth to the deviU. 

[//ere AntichrisUis shall die, and two devils shall 
come.^ 

Primus Demon. 

Anon, master, anon, anon! 
From hell grounde I harde the grone. 
I thought not to come my selfe alone. 
For worshippe of thyne estate. 

With us to hell thou slialhe gone , 
For thy death we make greate mone , 
To wyne more soules into our pond. 
But now y* is too late. 

Secundiis Demon. 

With me thou shalhe, from me thou come, 
Of me shall come thy last dome , 
For thou hast well deserved; 
And, through my niighte and my postee. 
Thou hast lived in dignity e , 
And many a soule deceived. 
Primus Demon. 

This bodye was gotten by myne assente 
In clean e bordome , verament , 
Of mother wombe or that he wente, 
I was byni w"' in. 



ANTICHRIST. 57 

And taiigfhte liyin aye, with myue inteute, 
Syiiiie by w*^*' he shalbe shente; 
For he did my commandeineiite , 
His soule shall never blyiie. 

Secundus Demon. 

Nowe fellow, in fayth, g:reate mone we maye make. 
For this lorde of estate that standeth us instead. 
Many a fatt morsell we had for his sake 
Of soules that have bene saved in hell by the head- 
[/Zere the devils carry jintichrlstus away.] 

Enocke. 

A Lorde that al shall leade , 
And bouth deeme the qiiicke and dead 5 
That reverence the thou one them read. 
And them through rig:hte releeved. 

I was dead and rig:hte here slayne. 
But throug:h thy mig:hte , Lorde , and thy mayne , 
Thou hast me raysed up againe. 
Thee will I love and leeve. 

Helyas. 

Yea, Lorde, blessed must thou be; 
My fleshe gioryfFyed now I se; 
Witt ney sleight againste the 
Conspired may be by no way. 

Al that leeve in thee stedfastly 
Thou helpes , Lorde , from al anoye 5 
For dead I was and nowe lyve I ; 
Honoured be thou aye ! 

Michaell. 
Enocke and Hely come you anon ; 
My Lorde will that you with me gone 
To heaven blisse, bouth blonde and bone. 
Ever more there to be. 



58 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

You have lienc lanjj-e , for you bene wise , 
Dwcllin(»e in earthly parradize , 
But to heaven where hym selfe is, 
IVowe shall you g:oe with me. 
[Here the yirchangel shall lead them to heaven , and shall 

sing * Gaudete.'^ 

Finis — Deo Gracias ! 



COVENTRY 

MIRACLE- PLAYS. 



JOSEPH'S JEALOUSY. 



Joseph. 
How dame , how ! vndo yoiu' dor ! viido ! 
Ar ye at horn? wliy speke ye notht? 
Susannah. 
Who is ther ? why cry ye so ? 

Telle us your her and: wyl ye ought? 
Joseph. 
Vndo yowr dor ! I sey yow to , 
For to com in is all my thought. 
Mary. 
It is my spowse , that spehyth us to , 

Ondo the dor, his wyl were wrought. 
Well come home , my hushond der ! 
How have you ferd , in fer countre ? 
Joseph. 
To gete our levynge, with owtyn dwere, 
I have sore laboryd, for the and me. 
Mary. 
Hushond, ryght gracyously , now come be ye. 
It solacyth me sore, sothiy, to sc yow in syth. 



42 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Joseph. 
Mc mervcylylb, wyff! surely yoiu* face I can not sc, 
But as the sonne with his bemys in the is most 
bryth. 

Marii, 
Ilusbond, it is, as it plesyth oiu- Lord, that grace 
of by grew. 
Who that evyr beholdyth me, veryly, 
They scbal be grettly steryd to vertu; 

For this gyfte, and many moo, good lord gra- 
mercy ! 

Joseph. 
How hast thou ferde, jentyl mayde, 
Whyl I have ben out of londe? 
Mary. 
Sekyr, serj beth nowth dysmayde, 
Byth aftyr the wyl of Goddys sonde. 
Joseph. 
That semyth evyl, I am afraydj 

Thi wombe to hyge doth stonde ; 
I di'ede me sore I am betrayd. 

Sum other man the had in honde. 
Hens , sythe , that I went. 
Thy wombe is gret, it gynnyth to ryse. 
Than has thou begownne a synnfull gyse, 

Thy self thou art thus schent. 
Now, dame, what thinge menyth this? 

With childe thou gynnyst ryth gret to gon; 
Sey me, Mary, this childys fadyr who is? 
I pray the telle me , and that anon ? 
3Iarij. 
The fadyr of hevyn , and se , it is. 

Other fadyr hath he non: 
I dede nevyr forfete with man, I wys, 

Wherefore, I pray yow, amende yowr mon: 
This chiide is Goddys , and yours. 



JOSEPH S JEALOUSY. 

Joseph. 
Goddys childe ! thou lyist , in faye , 
God dede nevyr rape so with maye. 

But yit I say, Mary, whoos childe is this? 

Mary. 
Goddys and yours, I sey , I ^ys. 

Joseph. 
Ya , ya ! all olde men , to me take tent , 

And weddyth no w^ff, in no kynnys wyse 
That IS a yonjje wench , he my asent , 

For doute and drede and swych servyse. 
Alas ! Alas ! my name is shent : 

All men may me now dyspyse. 
And seyn olde cokwold! thi howe is hent 
Newly now , after the frensche gyse. 
Alas 5 and welaway ! 
Alas , dame ! why dedyst thou so ? 
For this synne, that thou hast do, 
I the forsake, and from the go, 
For onys evyr, and dy. 
Mary. 
Alas gode spowse! why sey ye thus? 

Alas dere hoshund amende your mod! 
It is no man , hut swete Jhus , 

He wyll he clad in flesch and blood. 
And of your wyff he horn. 
Saphor. 
For sothe the Angel thus seyd he , 

That Goddys sone , in trynite , 
For mannys sake, a man wolde be. 
To save that is forlorn. 
Joseph. 
An Angel ! alias , alas ! fy for schame ! 
Ye syn now , in that ye do say j 



44 



MIH V<;i.i: - PLAYS. 



To [nillyn an An[»cl in so {•ret hiamc. 

Alas, alas! let be do way; 
It Avas sum hoy beg-an this g^ame , 

That elothyd was clene and gay , 
And ye g:eve bym now an Angel name, 

Alas , alas ! and welaway , 

That evyr this game be tydde ! 
A dame! what thought haddyst thou? 
Her may all men this proverbe trow. 
That many a man doth bete the bow. 

Another man hath the brydde. 

3larif. 
A gracyous God ! in hefne trone ! 

Comforte my spowse in this hard cas ; 
Mercyful God amend his mone , 

As I dede nevyr so gret trespas. 

Joseph. 
Lo , lo , sers ! what told I yow , 
That it was not for my prow, 

A wyff to take me to. 
And that is wel sene now ; 
For Mary , I make God a vow , 

Is grett with childe , lo! 
Alas ! why is it so ? 

To the busshop I wole it telle , 
That he the lawe may here do , 

AVith stonys her to qwelle. 
IVay, nay, yet God forbede ! 
That I shuld do that vengcabyl dede. 

But if I wyst , Avelaway ! 
I knew nevyr with her , so God me spcde , 
To ky of thynge , in word nor dede , 

That towchyd velany. 
]\evyr the less what for thy , 
Thovv she be meke and mylde , 



Joseph's jealousy. 45 

With owth maniiys company, 

She myght not be with chiUle. 
But I ensure me was it nevyr : 
Thow yet she hath not done her devyr. 
Rather than I shuld pleyny opynly, 
Certeynly, yett, had I levyr 
Forsake tbe countre for evyr. 

And nevyr come in her company. 
For, and men knew this velany. 

In reproflf thei wolde me holde , 
And yett many hettyr than I, 
Ya! hath hen made cokolde. 
IVow, alas! whedyr schal I g:one ? 

I wot nevyr whedyr, nor to what place 5 
For often tyme sorrowe comyth sone , 

And longe it is or it pace. 
IVo comfort may I have here. 

I wys, wyff, thou dedyst me wrong:e , 
Alas I taryed from the to longe. 
All men have pety enime amonge , 
For to my sorrowe is no cher. 

Mary. 
God! that in my body art sesyd , 
Thou knowist my husbond is dysplesyd , 

To se me in this plight; 
For unknowlage he is desesyd. 
And therfor help that he were esyd. 

That he myght knowe the ful profyght; 
For I have levyr abyde respyt , 

To kepe thi sone in priuite , 
Graunted by the holy spyryt , 

Than that it shulde be opyned by me. 

God appears and instructs an Ang-el to desire 
Joseph will abide with Mary, she being: pregnant 
by God himself. 



46 



MIRACLE -PL A Y8. 



ylufjel. 
Joseph! Joseph! thou wepyst shyrle, 
From thi wyff why comyst thou owte? 
Joseph. 
Good scr! lete me wepe my fyle; 

Go forthe that wey , and lett me nowg-ht. 
The ^«^e/ requests liim to return and cheer her; — 
Sche is a ful cleiic maye , 

I toUe ye God \vyl of her be horn. 
And sche clene mayd as she was beforn , 
To save mankynd that is forlorn; 
Go chere her, therefor, I say. 

Joseph. 
A! Lord God! henedicite! 
Of thi gret comforte I thank the, 

That thou sent me this space ; 
I myjjht wel a wyst parde. 
So g:ood a creature as sche. 

Wold nevyr a done trespace 

Joseph then returns to Mary, and under a feehng: 
of repentance and dehght, says, 

Alas! for joy, I qwedyr and qwake! 

Alas ! what hap now was this ! 
A mercy ! mercy ! my jentyl make , 

Mercy ! I have scyd al amys ; 
All that I have seyd her I forsake, 
Your swete fete now let me kys. 
Marij. 
Nay lett be; my fete not thou them take; 
My mowth ye may kys , I vr^s , 
And welcome on to me. 
Joseph. 
Gramercy! my owyn s>vetc wylF! 
Gramercy! myn hert! my love! my lyfl •' 



Joseph's jealousy. 47 

Schal I iievyr more mak suche stryff, 
Betv^yx me and the! 
He tells her lie is convinced: — 

Had thou not ben a vertuous wyfif, 
God wold not a ben the with inne. 
Joseph assures Mary that hereafter he will serve 
her, and worship the child 5 yet he expresses cu- 
riosity: — 

And therefor telle me , and nothynge withhoulde , 
The holy matter of your concepcion. 
Mary relates, that the Ang-el Gabriel g-reeted 
her, and said, 

God shulde be borne of my bode , 
The fendys powste for to felle , 
Thorowe the Holy Gost, as I well se: 
Thus God , in me , wyl byde and dwelle. 
Joseph expresses satisfaction, thanks God, is re- 
conciled to Mary, and the performance concludes. 



48 



MIRACLE- PLAYS. 



THE TRIAL OF MARY AND JOSEPH. 



Primus Detractor. 
A ! A ! serys , God save you all ! 
Here is a fayr pepyl, in good fay. 

To reyse blawdyr is al my lay , 

Rakhyter is my brother of blood. 
Dede he ought come hedyr in al this day; 

Now wolde God that he wer here , 
And, be my trewth, I dare wel say. 
That, if we tweyn, togedyr apere, 
Mor slawndyr we to schal arere, 

AVithin an liowre , thorwe outh this town. 
Than evyr ihcr was this thowsand yer. 

And ellys 1 shrewe you, bothe vp and down. 
Now , be my trewth , I have a syght , 

Euyn of my brother , lo wher he is : — 
"IVelcom, der brother! my trowth I plyght, 
Yowr jentyl mowth let me now kys. 
Secundiis Detractor. 
Gramercy! brother, so have I blys; 
I am ful glad ^ve met this day. 
Primus Detractor. 
Ryght so am I, brother, I T't'ys, 
Moch gladder than I kan say. 
But yitt good l)rothcr, I yow pray, 

Telle, al these pepyl, what is yowr name: 
For yf thei knew it, my lyf I lay, 

Thei wole yow wurchcp, and spek gret fame. 
Secundus Detractor. 
I am l)akbytcr, that spyllylh all game, 

Rotlio hyd and knowyii , in many a place. 



MARY AND JOSEPH. 49 

Primus Detractor. 
Be my trowth, I seyd the same; 

And yet sum seyden thou shulde have evyl grace. 
Secundus Detractor. 
Herk! reyse selaundyr: canst thou owth telle 
Of any newe thynge that wroug^ht was late? 
Primus Detractor. 
^Vithin a shorte whyle a thynge befelle , 

I trowe thou wylt lawgh ryghtt wel therate , 
For , be trowth , ryght mehyl hate , 
If it he wyst, therof wyl growe. 
Secundus Detractor. 
If I may reyse ther with debate , 
I schal not spare the seyd to sowe. 
Primus Detractor. 
Syr, in the tempyl, a mayd ther was, 

Calde mayd Mary; the trewth to tell, 
Sche seruyd so holy , with inne that plas , 

Men seyd sche was fedde with holy Angell ; 
Sche made a vow with man nevyr to melle. 

But to leve chast , and clene virgine , 
Howevyr it be , her wombe doth swelle , 
And is as gret as thyne or myne. 

They discourse for some time upon this news, 
but in terms not befitting: modern refinement. 

The Bishop, Abizachar, enters with two Doctors 
of Law. They hsten to part of the slander, and 
at last the Bishop says, 

I charge you serys of your fals cry , 
For sche is sybbe of my owyn blood. 
Secundus Detractor. 
Syb of thi kyn thow that she be. 

All gret T^dth chylde her wombe doth swelle; 
Do calle her hedyr , thi self schal se , 
That it is trewthe that I thee telle. 

4 



m 



Primus Detractor. 
Scr , for yoAvr sake , I sclial kepe cowncelle , 

Yow Tor to greve I am rygkt loth, 
But list, syrs, lyst, what seyth the helle ? 

Our fayr mayd now gret with cliilde g^oth. 

Principalis Doctor Legum. 
Make good heed , sers , what ye doth say , 

Avyse yOAV wele what ye present. 
If this he fownde fals , anothyr day 

Ful sore ye sehal yowr tale repent. 
Secundtis Detractor. 
Ser, the mayd, forsothe, is good, and g-ent. 

Both comely, and gay, and a fayr wench 5 
And , feetly , w ith help , sche can consent , 

To set a cokewolde on the hye henche. 
Episcoptis. 
This verey talys my hert doth greve. 

Of hir to here such fowle dalyawnce , 
If she he fowndyn in such repreve. 

She sehal sore rewe her governawns. 
Sym Somnor , in hast wend thou thi w^ay, 

Byd Joseph, and his ^vyff, he name 
At the coorte to apper this day, 

Here hem to pourge of her defame ; 
Sey that I here of hem grett schame. 

And that doth me gret hevynes , 
If thei he clene , withowtyn blame , 
Byd hem come hedyr, and shewe w^ttnes. 

Denunciator. 
All redy, ser, I sehal hem calle, 

Here at yowr coorte for to apper. 
And , yf I may iiem mete with all , 

I hope ryght sone thei sehal ben her. 
Awey, sers! let me com nerne; 

A man of wurchep here comyth to place. 



MARY AND JOSEPH. SI 

Of curtesy , me semyth , ye be to leriie , 

Do of yow hodys, with an evyl grace! 
Do me sum wurchep befor my face, 

Or, be my trowth, I shall yow make 
If that I rolle yow up in my race , 

For fer I schal do yowr limbs qwake , 
But yit sum mede , and ye me take , 

I wyl withdrawe my gret rough toth. 
Gold, or sylvyr, I wyl not forsake. 

But evyn as all Somnors doth. 
A, Joseph! good day, with thi fayr spowse ; 

My lorde , the buschop , hath for yow sent , 
It is hym tolde that in thi house 

A cockolde is — 

Of God, in hevyn, I take wyttnes. 

That synful werk was nevyr my thought, 

I am a mayd yit , of pure clennes , 

Lyke as I was into this werd brought. 

Denunciator. 
Othyr wyttnes shall non be sought; 

Thou art with childe , eche man may se ; 
I charge yow bothe ye tary nought. 

But, to the buschop, com forth, with me. 

Joseph. 
To the buschop , with yow, we wende ; 
Of our piu'gacion hawe we no dowth. 

Marif. 
Almighty God shal be our frende , 
When the trewthe is tryed owth. 

Denunciator. 
Ha! on this wyse, excusyth her, every scowte, 
^Vhan her owyn synne hem doth defame: 

4* 



52 MIHACLE - PLAYS, 

But lowly therin thei gyn to lowth , 

Whan tliei be gylty, and fonndyn in blame. 
Therfore come forth cokewolde — 

Denunciator upbraids tliem further, and bring:s 
them before the Bishop , whom he thus addresses : — 

My lord, the buschop ; here haue I brought 
This goodly copyl , at yowr byddyng ; 

And , as me semyth , as be here , fraught 
Fayr ehylde , lullay , sone must she syng. 

Primus Detractor. 

To her a credyl ye wolde brynge. 
Ye myght sane mony in her purse, 

Becawse she is yowr eosyn , — thinge , 

I pray yow, ser, lete her nevyr far the wers. 

Episcopus. 

Alas, Mary! what hast thou wrought? 
I am a schamyd evyu for thi sake. 

* » * ¥ 

Tell me who hath wrought this wranke, 
How hast thou lost thi holy name? 

Mary. 

My name , I hope , is safF and sownde , 
God to wyttnes I am a mayd. 

Of fleschly lust and gostly wownde 
In dede nor thought I nevyr asayd. 

Secundus Doctor Legum. 
Herke thou , Joseph j I am afrayd 

That thou hast wrought this opyn synne: 
This woman thou hast thus betrayd. 

With gret flaterynge , or sum fals gynne. 



MAIl\ AJND JOSEPH. ^3 

Secundus Detractor. 
IVow , be my trowth , ye hytte the pyiine , 

With that purpose in feyth I holde, 
Tell now how thou thus hir dudyst wynne , 

Or knowlych thi self for a cockewold? 
Josefjh. 
Sche is 5 for me, a trewe clene mayde,. 

And 1 5 for hii* , am clene also ; 
Of fleschly synne I nevyr asayde , 

Sythyn that sche was weddyd me to. 

Episcopus. 

Thou schalt not schape from vs, yitt so, 

Fyrst thou shalte tellyn us another lay: 
Streyt to the awter thou shalt g:o , 

The drynge of vei^eawns ther to asay. 
Here is the hotel of Goddys veng:eauns : 

This drynk shall he now thi purg-acion : 
This hath suche vertu, hy Goddys ordenauns. 

That what man drynk of this potacion, 
And goth straightway in processyon. 

Here in this place this awter abowth. 
If he be gylty , sum maculacion , 

Pleyn in his face, schal shewe it owth. 
[Hie JOSEPH libit et sepcies circnmit altare dicens: — 

This drynk I take, with meke entent. 

As I am gyltles, to God I pray; 
Lord ! as thou art omnypotente , 

On me then shewe the trowth this day. 

[Modo hibit^ 
About this awter I take the way; 

O gracyous God help thi servaunt. 
As , I am gyltles , ageyn you may ; 

Thi hand of mercy , this tyme , me graunt. 
Denunciator. 
This olde shi*ewe may not wele gon, 

lionge he taryeth to go abowth; 



S4 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Ljll up till I'ect, set forth thy ton, 

Or, be my tiewth, thou Jfetyst a clowte. 

Joseph is sorely upbraided and taunted, by De- 
nunciator and Hie Detractors , whilst he paces round 
the altar. 

Joseph. 

A , (jTacyous God ! help me this tyde , 

A{>eyn this pepyl , that doth me defame : 
As I iievyr more dede towehe her syde , 

This day helj) me, from werdly schame, 
Aboute this awter to kepe my fame. 

vij tymes I haue g:oii rowiid abowte. 
If I be wiu'thy to suffyr blame , 

O , ryj>htful God ! my syiine shewe owghte. 

Episcopiis. 
Joseph; with herte, thaiih God, thi lorde, 

Whos hey mercy doth the excuse; 
For thi purgacion we schal recorde. 

With hyr, of syiiue, thou dedyst nevyr muse; 
But, Mary, thi self mayst not refuse. 

All grett with chlyde we se the stonde; 
What mystyz man dede the mysvse ? 

Why hast thou synned ageyii thi husbonde? 

Mary. 
I trespacyd nevyr, with crthely wyght, 

Therof I hope , throwe Goddys sonde , 
Her to be purgyd, befor yowr syght. 

From all syime clene, lyke as my husbonde; 
Take me the hotel, out of yowr honde; 

Her schal I drynke, beforn yowr face, 
Abowth this awter than schal I fonde 

vij tymes to go , by Godys grace. 



MARY AND JOSEPH. OO 

Secundus Doctor Legum. 

With Goddys liyg- niyg^lit \oke thou not rape. 

Of thi purg:acion wel the avyse, 
Yf thou be gylty thou mayst not schape , 

Bewar evyr of God that rygihtful justyce. 
If God with vengeauns set on the his syse, 

IVot only thou, but all thi kyn is sehamyd, 
Bettyr it is to telle the trewth devyse. 

Than God for to greve , and_of hym be gramyd 

Mary drinks of the water of veiig^eance, and 
walks around the altar, saying* a prayer to God, 
which she concludes thus : — 

Gabryel me, with wordys, he be forn. 

That ye, of your goodnes, woulde become my 
chylde ; 

Help now of your hygness, my wurchep be not lorn, 
A dere sone ! I pray yow , help yowr modyr mylde. 

Mary receives no harm from the potation, and 

the Bishop^ in astonishment, declares, that 

Sehe is clene mayde, both modyr and wyflf! 
The Detractors suspecting* some deceit, express 
their dissatisfaction. 

Primus Detractor. 

Be my fadyr sowle , here is gret gyle , 
Because sche is syb of yowr kynreed: 

The drynk is chaungyd, by simi fals wyle. 
That sche no shame shulde haue this steed. 

The Bishop orders Detractor to drink of the 
same cup. 



)I6 MIKAIJ.K -I'l.AYS. 

Primus Detractor. 
Syr, ill good feyth, a di'aujjht I pulle , 
If these to drinliers have not all spent. 
He iiistanly becomes frantic from the draughty 
the Bishop and all present ask pardon of Mary for 
their suspicion and detraction , which she grants -, 
she and Joseph congratulate each other ^ and the 
piece concludes. 



THE 



PAGEANT 



OF 



THE COMPAIVY OF SHEARMEIV AND TAILORS, 
UN COVEPITRY. 



Although the Transcriber of this Pageant in loo4, complacently 
announces that it is «neTly correcte" , ^^e must nevertheless regret the loss 
of older copies; for the orthography of -Robert Croo" is so illiterate 
and confused, as not to exhibit the language of his times in a fair 
and appropriate dress. The Speech of the " lyonceose " in French is 
particularly corrupted. 



THE NATIVITY. 



Isaye. 
The soflFerent thatt seithe evere seycrette , 
He saue you all and make you perfett and strong-e 
And gevenes grace w* his marce forto mete. 
For now in g:rett mesere mankynd ys bownd. 
The sarpent hathe g:evin vs soo mortall a wonde , 
That no creature ys ahull vs forto reyles 
Tyll thye rig:ht vncion of Jvda dothe seyse ; 
Then schall moche myrthe and joie in cresse. 
And the right rote in Isaraell spryng:e, 
Thatt schall hryng: forthe the greyne off whollenes : 
And owt of danger he schall vs hryng: 
In to thatt reygeon where he ys hyngr : 
Wyche ahowe all othur far dothe a hownde , 
And thatt cruell Sathan he schall confownde. 
Where fore I cum here apon this grrownde. 
To comforde eyueve creature off birthe; 
For I Isaye, the profet, hathe fownde 
Many swete matters, whereof we ma make myrth 
On this same wyse. 



MIH\(.LK - PLAYS. 



For tho(;li thai Adam be demid to deythe 
AV* all his childur, asse Ahell and Seythe : 
Yett ecce vtrrjo consepeet ; 
Loo , where a reymede schall ryse ! 
Be holdc a mayde schall conseyve a childe , 
And g^ett vs more grace than eyuer men had : 
And hir meydin od nothing: defylid: 
Sche ys depntyd to beare the sun almyghte God. 
Loo , siifferntis now ma you be glad , 
For of this meydin all we ina be fayne ; 
For Adam , that now lyis in sorrois full sade , 
Hir gloreose birth schall reydeme hym ageyn 
From bondage and thrall. 
IVow be myrre eyuere mon, 
For this dede bryfily in Isai'aell schalbe done , 
And before the fathur in trone, 
Thatt schall glade vs all. 
More of this matter fayne wolde I meve, 
But leugur tyme I haue not here for to dwell. 
That lorde that ys mercefuU his merce soo in vs ma prove. 
For to sawe owre sollis from the darknes of heU , 
And to his blys he vs bryng asse he ys bothe lord and kyng , 
And shalbe eyuerlastyng in secula seculos : amen. 

Gaherell. 

Hayle ! Mare , full of grace , oure Lord God ys w* the 
Aboue all wemen that eyuer w asse ; 
Lade blesside mote thow be. 

Mare. 

All myght fathur and kyng of blys , 
From all dysses thu sauc me now^ : 
For inw ardely my spretis trubbuld ys^ , 
Thatt I am araacid and kno nott how. 

Gaberell. 

Dred the nothyng meydin of this : 
From hoyvin a bowe hyddur am I sent, 
or ,ini])assago from thai l>}ng of blys. 



THE NATIVITY. 61 

Unto the lade and virgin reyuerent, 
Salutyng: the here asse most exselent. 
Whose vertu aboue all othur dothe abownde ; 
Wherefore in the grace schalbe fownde : 
For thow schalt conseyve apon this grownd 
The second persone of God iu trone ; 

He wylbe borne of the alone, w* owt sin thii schalt hym see. 
Thy grace and thi goodnes wyl neyuer be gone , 
But eyner to lyve in vergenete 

3Iare. 

I marvel! soore how thatt mabe : 
Manes ciimpany knev I neyuer yett. 
Nor neyuer to do kast I me, 
Whyle thatt owre lord sendith me my wytt. 

Gaherell. 

The whoUe Gost in the schall lyght , 
And schall do thy soil soo v^* vertu. 
From the fathur thatt ys on hyght : 
These wordis turtill the be full tru. 
This chylde that of the schalbe borne, 
Ys the seconde persone in trenete; 
He schall saue that wase forlorne , 
And the fyndis powar dystroie schall he; 
These wordis , lade , full tru the bene , 
And furthur, lade, here in thy iioone lenage. 
Be holde Eylesabeth thy cosyn clene , 
The wyche wasse barren and past all age , 
Amd now w* chyld sche hath bene 
Syx monethis , and more asse schalbe sene ; 
W^here for discomforde the not Mare , 
For to God onpossibuU nothyng mabe. 

Mare. 

Now and yt be thatt lordis wyll. 
Of my bodde to be borne and forto be; 
Hys hy pleysuris forto full fyl, 
Asse his one hande mayde I submyt me. 



62 MIRACLE -PLATS. 

Gaberell. 

Now hlessid be the tyme sett. 
That thu waste borne in thy de(yre : 
For now ys the knott surely knytt , 
And God couseyvide in trenete. 
Now fare >vell lade off myghtis most, 
Vnto the God hed I the be teyche. 

Mare. 

Thatt lorde the gyde in eyuere cost. 
And looly he leyde me and be my leyche. 

[Here the Angell deptyth, and JOSOFF cianyth in and seyih 

Mare , my wyff soo dere ! 
How doo ye dame , and whatt eliere 
Ys w* you this tyde? 

3Iare. 

Truly , husebonde , I am here , 
Owre Lordis wyll for to abyde. 

Josoff. 

Whatt I troo thatt we be all schent : 
Sey womon who hath byn here sith I went, 
To rage wyth the. 

Mare, 

Syr, here wase nothur man nor mans eyvin, 
But only the sond of owre Lorde God in heyvin. 

Josojf. 

Sey not soo womon, for schame ley be: 
Ye be w* chyld soo wondurs grett. 
Ye nede no more therof to tret , 
Agense all rijyht. 

For sothe this chylde dame ys not myne , 
Alas that eyuer w* my nynee 
I suld see this syght. 
Tell me womon whose ys this chyld? 

3Iare. 

IVon but youris husebond soo myld , 
And thatt sehalbe seyne. 



THE \ATIVITY. 



65 



Josoff. 

But myne , alias ! aDas ! why sey ye soo ? 
Wele awey womon, now may I g:oo 
Be Jiyld as many a nothur ys ! 

Mare. 

Na truly, sir, ye be not be g'ylde, 
IVor yet w* spott of syn I am not defylde; 
Trust yt well huse bonde. 

Josojf. 

Huse bond in feytlie, and that acold: 
A weylle awey Josoif, as thow ar olde! 
Lyhe a fole now ma I stand and truse , 
But in feyth. Mare, thu art in syn. 

Soo moche ase I haue cheyrischyd the dame and all thi kyn. 
Be hynd my bake to serve me 'thus: 
All olde men insampuU take be me ; 
How I am be g:ylid here may you see, 
To wed soo yong: a chyld. 

Now fare well , Mare , I leyve the here alone , 
Worthe the dam and thy warkis ycheone : 
For I woU noo more be gylid be for frynd nor fooe. 
Now of this ded I am soo dull , 
And off my lyff I am soo ftdl, no farthur ma I oo. 

Angell j. 

Aryse up Josoff, and g:oo whom agreyne 
Vnto Mare thy wyff that ys soo fre ; 
To comford hir loke that thow be fayne, 
For Josoff a cleyne meydin ys schee. 
Sche hath conseyvid w* owt any ti*ayne 
The seycond person in trenete : 
Jhu schalbe hys name sarten. 
And all thys world sawe sehall be not ag:ast. 

Josojf. 

Now, Lorde ! I thanke the w* hart full sad, 
For of these tythyngis I am so §:lad, 
Thatt all my care awey ys cast: 



64 MIRACLE -PL4YS. 

Wherefore to Mare I >voll in hast. 
A Mare ! Mare ! I kiielc full loo , 
Forjjcve me, swete ^>^iF5 here in this loud. 
Marce , Mare ! for now I kno 

Of yoiu-e good g-ouernance and how yt doth stond : 
Thoght thatt I dyd the mys name. 
Marce, Mare! whyle I leve 

Wyll I neyiier, swet wyff, the greve in ernyst, nor in game. 

Mare. 

Now thatt Lord in heyvin , sir, he you forgyve : 
And I do for geve yow in hys name for euermore. 

Josoff. 

Now truly, swete wyff, to you I sey the same; 
But now to Bedlem must I wynde, 
And scho my self soo full of care. 
And I to leyve you this grett behynd, 
God wott the whyle dame how you schuld fare. 

Mare. 

Na hardely, husehond, dred ye nothyng, 
For I woll walke w* you on the wey. 
I trust in God all myghte kyng 
To spede right well in owre jurney. 

Josoff. 

Now I thanke you. Mare, of youre goodnes , 
Thatt ye my wordis woll not hlanie ; 
And syth that to Bedlem we schall vs dresse , 
Goo we to gedur in Goddis wholle name. 
Now to Bedlem liaue wc leygis three , 
The day ys ny spent, yt drawyth toward nyght: 
Fayne at your es , dame , I wold that ye schulde he : 
For you groue all werely, yt semyth in my syght. 

Mare. 

God liaue marcy ! Josoffe , my spowse , soo dere ! 
All profettis herto dothe beyre ^vyttnes, 
The were tynie now draith nere 
Thatt my ehyld wolhe borne , wyche ys kyng of blis. 



THE NATIVITY. 65 

Vnto sum place 5 Josoff, kyndly me leyde, 
Thatt I moglit rest me w* g^race in this tyde. 
The lyg:ht of the fathiir ouer hus both spreyde. 
And the g:race of my smi w* vs here ahyde. 

Josoff. 

Loo 5 blessid Mare! here schall ye lend, 
Cheff chosyn of owre Lorde, and cleynist in degre; 
And I for help to towne woU I wende. 
Ys nott this the best dame, whatt sey ye? 

Mare. 

God haue marce ! Josoff, my huse bond , soo meke ! 
And hartely I pra you g-oo now fro me. 

Josoff. 

Thatt schalbe done in hast, Mare, soo swete ! 
The comford of the whoUe Go'st leyve I w* the. 
Now to Bedlem streyght woU I wynd, 
To gett som helpe for Mare soo fre. 
Sum helpe of wemen , God ma me send ! 
Thatt Mare, full off graee, pleysid ma be. 

Pastor j. 

Now God that art in trenete, 
Thow sawe my fellois and me 5 
For I kno nott wheyre my scheepe nor the be , 
Thys nyght yt ys soo colde. 
Now ys yt nygh the myddis of the nyght. 
These wedurs ar darke and dym of lygfht, 
Thatt of them can by haue noo syg-ht 
Standyng: here on this wold. 
But now to make there hartis lyght. 
Now will I full right stand apon this looe. 
And to them cry w* all my myght : 
Full well my voise the kno, 
W* boo! fellois! boo! boo! boo! 

Pastor ij. 

Hark, Sym, harke, I here owre brothur on the loe , 
This ys hys woise , right well I knoo , 



09 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

There fore toward hym lelt vs jjoo , 
Aiul folio his woise a ri{»ht. 
See, Sym, sc where he doth stond; 
I am ryg'ht (ylad we haiie hym fond. 
Brolhur! where hast thow hyn soo long^ , 
And this nyght hit ys soo cold? 

Pastor j. 

E! fryndis! ther cam a pyrie of wynd w* a myst suddenly, 
Thatt forth oiT my weyis went I, 
And grett heyvenes in made I , 
And wase full sore afrayde; 
Then forto g:oo wyst I nott whyddur. 
But trawellid on this loo hyddur and thyddur; 
I wasse so were of this cold weddur, 
Thatt nere past wasse my myg:ht. 

Pastor iij. 
Brethur, now we be past that fryght. 
And hit ys far w* in the nyght: 
Full sone woll spryng: the day lyg'ht. 
Hit di'awith full nere the tyde. 
Here awhyle lett vs rest, 
And repast owreself of the hest, 
Tyll thatt the sun ryse in the est. 
Let vs all here ahyde. 

[T/iere the SCHEPPERDIS drawys furlh ther met/te, and 
doth eyte and dri/nk , and assc the drynk , the fynd 
the star and soy thus; — 

Brethur, loke vp and hehold, 
Whatt thyng- ys yondur thatt schynith soo bryght, 
Asse long' ase eyuer I haue wachid my fold, 
Yett sawe I neyuer soche a syght in fyld. 
A ha! now ys cum the tyme that old fathurs hath told, 
Thalt in the wynturs nyjjht soo cold, 
A chyld of meydyn l)oriie be he wold, 
111 whom all profeciys schalhe fullfyld. 



THE NATIVITY. 67 

Pastor j. 
Truth y* ys w* owt naye, 
Soo seyd the profett Isaye , 

Thatt a chylde schuld he home of a made soo hryght, 
III wentur ny the schortist dey , 
Or elis in the myddis of the iiyg:ht. 
Pastor ij. 
Loovid he God, most off myght! 
That owre grace ys to see thatt sygrht: 
Pray we to hym ase hit ys right, 
Yff thatt hys wyll yt he, 

Thatt we ma haiie knoleyge of tliis syngnefocacioii , 
And why hit aperith on this fassion^ 
And eyiier to hym lett vs geve lawdacion. 
In yerthe , whyle thatt we he. * 

\_There the Angelis syng Glorea in exselsis Deo.] 
Pastor iij. 
Harke, the syng ahowe in the clowdis clere; 
Hard I neyuer of soo myrre a quere : 
Now grentyll hrethur draw we nere 
To here there armony? 

Pastor j. 
Brothnr, myrth and solas ys cum hus amony. 
For he the swettnes of ther songe^ 
Goddis sun ys cum, whom we haue lokid for long, 
Asse syngnefyith thys star that we do see. 
Pastor ij. 
Glore , glorea in exselsis , that wase ther songe 5 
How sey ye , fellois ! seyd the not thus ? 

Pastor j. 
Thatt ys welseyd, now goo we hence 
To worschipe thatt chyld of hy manyffecence; 
And that we may syng in his presence, 
Et in tarra pax omynihus. 

YThere the Schepperdis synqis Ase I owt rodde , and JOSOFF 
seyth ; — 

5* 



68 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Now Lorde this noise that I do here, 
W* this grett solemuete, 
Gretly amendid hath my chere , 
I trust hy ncvis schortly wolhe. 

[There the AngelUs syny Gloria in exselsis ageyne.] 
Mare. 
A! Josoff, husebond, cum heddur anon, 
My chylde ys borne that ys liyng: of blys. 

Josoff. 
Now weleum to me, the makar of mon, 
W* all the omage thatt I con^ 
Thy swete mothe here woU I kys. 

Mare. 
A I Josoff, husebond, my chyld waxith cold. 
And we haue noo fyre to warme hym w*. 

Josoff. 
Now in my armys I schall hym fold , 
Kyng: of all kyngis be fyld and be fryth: 
He myg:ht haue had bettur, and hym selfe wold. 
Then the breythyng: of these bestis to warme hym w*. 

Mare. 
Now Josoff, my husbond, fet heddur my chyld. 
The maker off man, and hy kyng of blys. 

Josoff. 
That schaUie done anon. Mare, soo myld! 
For the brethyng: of these bestis hath warmyd well I wys. 

Angell j. 
Hyrd men hynd drede ye nothyng:. 
Off thys star thatt ye do se; 
For thys same morne Godis sun ys borne. 
In Bedlem of a maydin fre. 

AtigeU ij. 
Hy you hyddur in hastj 
Yt ys hys w^ll ye schall hym see 
Lyingc in a crybbe of pore reypaste, 
Yett of Davithis lyne cumon ys hee. 



THE NATIVITY. • 69 

Pastor j. 

Hayle, mayde, modur, and wyff, soo myldl 
Asse the Angell seyd, soo haue we fonde. 
I liaue nothyng: to present w* the chylde , 
But my pype hold, take yt in thy hond; 
Where in moche pleysure that I haue fond. 
And now to oonowre thy gloreose byrthe y 
Thow schallt yt haue to make the myrthe. 

Pastor ij. 

Now hayle be thow chyld , and thy dame , 
For in apore log:g:yn here art thow leyde; 
Soe the Ang:ell seyde , and tolde vs thy name. 
Holde , take thow here my hat on thy hedde , 
And now off won thyng: thow art well sped 5 
For weddur thow hast noo nede to complayne, 
For wynde, ne sun, hayle, snoo, and rayne. 
Pastor iij. 

Hayle, be thow lorde ouer watm* and landis, 
For thy cumyng: all we ma make myrthe; 
Haue here my myttens to pytt on thi hondis, 
Othur treysure haue I non to present the w*. 

Mare. 

Now, herdmen, hynd for youre comyng:. 
To my chylde schall I pra , 

Asse he ys heyvin kyng:, to grant you his blessyng?. 
And to hys blys that ye may wynd at your last day. 

[There the Schepperdis syngith ageytie , and goth forthe of 
the place , and the ij Profettis cumyth in and seyth thus ; — 

Profeta j. 
IVovellis , novellis , of wondrfull mervellys ! 
Were hy and defuee vnto the heryng:, 

Asse scripture tellis these strange novellis to you I bryng*. 
Profeta ij. 
IVow hartely, syr, I desyre to knoo, 
Yff hytt wolde pleyse you forto schoo 
Of whatt maner a thyng. 



fO MIHACLE - PLA.yS. 

Profeta j. 
Were mystecall vnto yoiire heryng^ 
Of the natcvete off a kyiig? 

Profeta ij. 
Of a kyng?? whence sehuld he cum? 

Profeta j. 
From thatt reyg^end ryall , and mig:hly mancion , 
The sedc seylesteall and heyvinly vysedome; 
The seycond person, and Godis one sum. 
For owre sake ys man he cum; 
This g:odly spere desendid here, 
In to a verg-in clere sche on defyld. 
Be whose warke ohskevre 
O^vre frayle nature ys now hegilde. 
Profeta ij. 
Why hathe sche a chyld? 

Profeta j. 
E! trust hyt well, and neuer the las. 
Yet ys sche a mayde evin asse sche wasse, 
And hir sun the kyng: of Isaraell. 
Profeta ij. 
A wondur full marvell how thatt ma he , 
And far dothe exsell all owre capasete. 
How thatt the trenete of soo hy reg:allete, 
Sehuld be jonyd vuto owre mortallcte. 

Profeta j. 
Of his one grett marce as ye schall se the cxposyssion , 
Throgh whose vmanyte all Adamis progene 
Reydemyd schalbe owt of perdyssion; 
Syth man did offend, who sehuld amend. 
But the seyd mon and no nothur; 
Fop the wyche cawse he incarnate wold be, 
And lyve in meserc asse manis one brotliur. 
Profeta ij. 
Syr, vnlo the deyitc I belcvc perfcttle 
On])08sihull to Ix' there ys nothynj; : 



THE NATIVITY. 71 

How be yt this warke vnto me ys darke, 
111 the opperacioii or wyrkyng:. 

Profeta j, 
Whatt more reypriff ys vnto belyflf then to be dowtyng-. 

Profeta ij. 
Yet dowtis oftymis bathe derevacion. 

Profeta j. 
Thatt ys be the meynes of comenecacion , 
Of trawthis to haue a dev probacion, 
Be the same dovrts reysoning-. 

Profeta ij. 
Then to you thys won thyng-j — 
Of whatt nobull and hy lenage ys sehee, 
Thatt myght this verabidl prineis modur be? 
Profeta j. 
Ondowtid sche ys cum of hy parrage , 
Of the bowse of Davith , and Salamon the sage , 
And won oflf the same lyuc joynid to hir be mareage , 
Of whose trybe we do subscryve this chy[l]dis lenage. 
Profeta ij. 
And why in thatt wysse? 

Profeta j. 
For yt wasse the gysse 
To conte the parant on the manys lyne , 
And nott on the feymyne, 
Amonst vs here in Isaraell. 

Profeta ij. 
Yett can I nott aspy, be no wysse. 
How thys chylde borne schuldbe w* ow [t] naturis prejudyse. 

Profeta j. 
Nay no prejudyse vnto nature I dare well sey. 
For the kyng of nature may hawe all at his one wyll. 
Dyd not the powar of God make Aronis rod beyre frute 
in on day? 

Profeta ij 
Truth yt ys in ded 



72 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Profeta j. 

Then loke you and rede. 

Profeta ij. 

A ! I preseyve the sede where apon thatt you spake; 
Yt wasse for owre nede thatt he frayle nature tlid take. 
And his hlod he schuld schede amens forto make 
For owre trans eg^re ssion , 

Ase yt ys seyd in profece ; — thatt of the lyne of Jude 
Schuld spryng- a ri^ht Messe, 
Be whom aU wee schalld haue reydemcion. 

Profeta j. 

S', now ys the tyme cum. 
And the date there of run 
Off his natevete. 

Profeta ij. 

Yett I heseke you hartele, that ye wold schoo me how 
Thatt this strange nowelte were hroght vnto you. 

Profeta j. 

This othur nyght soo cold, 
Herehy apon a wolde, 
Schepperdis wachyng: there fold. 
In the nyg'ht soo far. 
To them aperid a star , 
And eyuer yt drev them nar; 
Wyehe star the did behold, 
Bryg'hter the sey M folde , 
Then the sun so clcre 
In his mydday sperc ; 
And the these tythyngis tolde. 

Profeta ij. 
What seycretly ? 

Profeta j. 
IVa , na , hardely , 
The made there of no conseil , 
For the song ase lo'wde , 



THE NATIVITY. 



75 



Ase eyuer the cowde, 
Presyng: the kyng: of Isaraell. 

Profeta ij. 

Yett do I marvell. 
In what pyle or castell. 
These herdineii dyd hym see. 

Profeta j, 

IVothur ill hallis, nor yett in howris , 
Borne wold he not be; 
Nothur in castellis , nor yet in towris , 
That semly were to se; 
But att hys fathurs wyll. 
The profeci to full fyll. 
Be t^vyxt an ox and an as, 
Ihu this kyng: borne he was; * 
Heyvin he bryng: us tyll ! 

Profeta ij. 

S"^, a! but when these Schepperdis had seyne hym there, 
In to whatt place did they rep eyre ? 
Profeta j. 

Forthe the went, and giad the were; 
Going* the did syng: 

W* myrthe and solas, the made good chere , 
For joie of thatt new tything. 
And aftur asse I hard the tell. 
He reywardid them full well. 
He graunt them hevyn ther in to dwell. 
In ar the gon w* joie and myrthe , 
And there songe hit ys neowell. 

\_There the Profettis gotJie furtJie , and Erod cumyth in and the 
Messenffer^ 

Nonceose. 
Faytes pais, domnyis baronys de grande reynowne! 
Payis , seneoris schevaleris de nooble posance ! 
Pays , gentis homos companeouys petis egrance ' 
Je vos command dugard treytus sylance ! 



74 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Payis tanquc votlur nooble Roie syre ese peresance ! 
Que iiollls persoiic esc noa fawis pemynt dedfferaiice : 
INese liardc de fraj^pas, mayis g:ardus to cor paceance 
Mayls gardus voter seiieor to cor reyaerance ; 
Car elat vottiir Role tuto puysance. 
Amon de leo pase , tos je vose cummande , 

E lay Roie Erott la , g:randealioly vos vmport. 

Erode. 
Qui statis in Jude et Rex Iseraell, 
And the myghttyst conquerowre that eyuer walkid on growndj 
For I am evyn he thatt made bothe hevin and hell. 
And of my myg:hte powar holdilh vp this world rownd. 
Magogf and Madroke , hothe the did I confownde , 
And \v* this hryght bronde there bonis I brak on suud'r, 
Thatt all the wyde worlde on those rappis did wond'r. 
I am the cawse of this grett ly(}'ht and thund'r; 
Yett ys throg-h my fure that the soche noyse do the make. 
My feyrefull contenance the clowdis so doth incumbur, 
Thatt oftymis for dred ther of the verre yerth doth quake. 
Loke when I w* males this bryght brond doth schake 5 
All the whole world from the north to the sowthe , 
I ma them dystroie w* won worde of my mow the. 
To reycownt vnto you myn innevmerabull substance 
Thatt were to moche for any tong to tell 5 
For all the whole Orent ys vnd'r myn obbeydeance. 
And prynce am I of purgatorre , and chelf capten of hell. 
And those tyraneos trayturs be force ma I compcll 
Myne enmyis to vanquese, and evyn to dust them dr^ve. 
And w* a twynke of myne iee not won to be lafte alyve. 
Behold my contenance and my colur, 
Bryghtur then the sun in the meddls of the dey! 
"Where can you haue a more grettur succur. 
Then to behold my person that ys soo {*aye 5 
My fawcun and my fassion w* my gorgis araye? 
He thatt had the grace all wey ther on to thynke , 
Lyvc IIh' niyghi all wey w* owt othur mcyte or drynke^ 



THE NATIVITY. 75 

And thys my tryomfaiide fame most hylist do the a bowmle, 
Throjyh owt this world in all reygeons ahrod, 
Reysemelyng' the fauer of thatt most myg^ht Mahownd; 
From Jiihytor be desent , and cosyn to the grett God , 
And namyd the most reydowndid kyng- Eyrodde , 
Wyche thatt all pryncis hath undur subjeccion. 
And all there whole powar vndur my proteccion; 
And therefore my hareode here callid Calcas, 
Warne thow eyuer porte, thatt no schyppis a ryve, 
IVor also aleond stranger throg my realme pas , 
But the for there truage do pay marhis fyve. 
Now spede the forth hastele. 
For the thatt wyll the contrare 
Apon a galowse hangid sehalbe ; 
And , be Mahownde , of me the gett noo grace. 

Noncios. 

Now, lord and mastur ! in all the hast. 
Thy worethe wyll ytt schall be wroghtj 
And thy ryall euntreyis sehalbe past. 
In asse schort tyme asse can be tlioght. 

Erode. 

Now schall owre regeons throgh owt be soght 
In eyuer place , bothe Est and West : 
Yff any hatyffis to me be broght 
Yt sehalbe nothyng for there best. 
And the whyle thatt I do resst, 
Trompettis, viallis, and othur armone, 
Schall bles the wahyng of my maiste. 

\Ilere Erod goth aweij, and ihe iij Eyngis speyhylh in the strcte^ 

Rex j. 
IVow blessid be God of his swet sonde. 
For yondur a feyre bryght star I do seel 
Now ys he common vs a monge 
Asse the profettis seyd that yt schuld be, 
Aseyd there schuld a babe be borne 
Comyng of the rote of Jesse , 



76 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

To sawe m.inkynd that wasse for lorne , 

And truly come now ys he. 

Reyiiereuce and worschip to hym woll I do , 

Assc God and man thatt all made of nog:ht. 

All the profettis acordid and seyd evyn soo, 

Thatt ^v* hys presseos blod mankyiid schidd be bog^ht. 

He grant me jjrace be yonder star thatt I see , 

And in to thatt place bryng^ me , 

Thatt I ma hym worschipe w* umellete , 

And se hys gloreose face. 

Rex ij. 
Owt off my wey I deme thatt I am, 
For toocuns of thys cuntrey can I non see; 
Now God thatt on yorth madist man , 
Send me simi knoleyge where thatt I be. 
Yondiir me thynke a feyre bryght star I see , 
The wyche be tocunyth the byrth of a chyld , 
Thatt hedur ys cimi to make man fre. 
He borne of a mayde, and sche iiothyng- defyld; 
To worschip thatt chyld ys myn in tent. 
Forth now wyll I take my wey ; 
I trust sum cumpany God hath me sent. 
For yondur I se a kyng: labur on the wey; 
To waide hym now woll I ryde. 
Harke 5 cumly kyng', I you pray. 
In to whatt cost wyll ye thys tyde. 
Or weddur lyis yowre jurncy? 

Rex j. 
To seke a chylde ys myne in tent. 
Of whom the profettis hathe ment; 
The tjine ys cum now ys he sent , 
Be yondur star liere ma [you] see. 

Rex ij. 
S' , I proy you w* your lysence , 
To ryde w' ycm viilo his presence; 



THE NATIVITY. 77 

To hym W5II I offiir frank in sence. 
For the hed of all whole churche schall he be. 

Rex iij. 

I ryde wanderyng: in veyis wyde , 
Ouer montens and dalis, I wot not where I am. 
IVow hyng: of all kyng:is send me soche gyde , 
Thatt I myg^ht haue knoleyg:e of this cuntreys name. 
A yondur I se a syg:ht he seymyng: all afar , 
The wyche he tocuiis sum nevis ase I troo, 
Asse me thynke a chyld peryng: in a stare; 
I trust he he cum thatt schall defend vs from woo. 
To kyngiis yundur I see , and to them woU I ryde , 
Forto haue there cumpane I trust the wyll me ahyde. 
Hayle , cumly kyng:is , augent ! 
Good surs , I pray you wheddur ar ye ment ? 

Rex j. 

To seke a chylde ys owre in tent , 
Wyche he tocuns yondur star asse ye ma see. 

Rex ij. 

To hym I purpose thys present. 
Rex iij. 

Surs, I pray you and thatt ryg-ht vmhlee, 
W* you thatt I ma ryde in cumpane; 
To all myg'hte God now prey we, 
Thatt hys pressiose persone we ma se. 

\_Here Erode cinnylh in ageync , and the MESSEiyGERE seytJi; — 

Hayle lorde , most off myg^ht ! 
Thy commandement ys right. 
In to thy land ys comyn thys nyght 
iij kyngis, and w* them a grett cumpany. 

Erod. 

Whatt make those kyngis in this cuntrey? 
Noncios. 

To seke a kyng and a chyld the sey. 
Erode. 

Of whatt ag-e schuld he bee? 



78 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

JVoncios. 
Skant twcllve deyis old fiiUe. 
Erod. 
And wasse he soo late borne V 
Noncios. 
E! Syr, soo the schode me thys same dey in the morne. 

JErod. 
Now , in payne of deyth , hryng' them me beforne ; 
And there fore , harrode , now hy the in hast , 
In all spede thatt thow were dyght. 
Or thatt those kyngis the cuntrey be past; 
Loke thow bryng: them all iij before my syght. 
And in Jerusalem inquere more of thatt chyld? 
But I warne the that thy wordis be mylde, 
For there mast thow hede, and crafty wey 
How to do his powere, and those iij kyngis shalbe begild. 

Noncios. 
Lorde , I am redde att youre byddyng- , 
To sarve the ase my lord and kyng. 
For joyc there of loo how I spryng, 
AV* lyght hart and fresche gamboldyng, 
Alofte here on this molde. 

Erode. 
Then sped the forthe hastely. 
And loke thatt thow beyrc the eyvinly: 
And also I pray the hartely, thatt thow doo 
Gomaud me bothe to yong and olde. 

JXuncios. 
Ilayle , syr kyngis , in youre degre ! 
Erood, kyng of these cuntreyis wyde 
Desyrith to speyke w' you all thre. 
And for youre comyng he dothe abyde. 

Rex j. 
Syr, alt his wyll we be ryght baync. 
Hy us brelhur vnto thatt lordis place; 



THE NATIVITY. 79 

To speyke w* hym we wold be fayne, 
Thatt chyld tliatt we seke , he grant vs of his grace ! 

Noncios. 

Hayle , lorde w* owt pere ! 
These iij kyngis here have we hroght. 

Erode. 

Now welcum, syr kyngis;, all in fere 5 
But of my bryght blesiirs bassche ye noght. 
S*^ kyngis, ase I vndiirstand 
A star bathe gydid you into my land ; 
"Where in grett harie ye haue fonde , 
Be reysun of hir beymis bryghtj 
Wherefore I pray you hartely. 
The vere truthe thatt ye wold sertefy; 
How long yt ys surely, 
Syn of that star you had furst syght? 

Rex j. 

S' kynge, the vere truthe sey. 
And forto schoo you ase hit ys best. 
This same ys evin the xii*^ dey 
Seyth yt aperid to vs to be west. 

Erode. 

Brethur , then ys there no more to sey , 
But w* hart and wyll kepe ye your jurney; 
And cum whom by me this same wey. 
Of your lie vis thatt I myght knoo. 
You schall tryomfe in this cuntre , 
And w* grett conquorde bankett w* me : 
And thatt chylde myself then woll I see , 
And honor hym also. 

Rex ij. 

S' , youre commandement we woll fulfyU , 
And humbly abaye owreself there tyll; 
He thatt weldith all thyng at wyll 
The redde way bus teyche , 
S' kyng! thatt we ma pass your land in pes. 



80 MIRACLE- PL \YS. 

Erode. 

Yes! and walke softely eyvin at yoiir one es, 
Youre pase porte for a C deyis, 
Here schall you haiie of clcre cuminand 
O^vi'e reme to lalnir any weyis. 
Here schall you liaue he spesschall grante. 

Rex iij. 

IVow fare well kyng: of hy dejjre; 
Hiunhly of you owre leyve we take. 

Erode. 

Then adev, S*^ kyng^is, all thre; 
And whyle I lyve he hold of me 5 
There ys nothyng: in this cuntre. 
But for youre one ye schall yt take. 
Now these iij kyngis ar g:on on ther wey. 
On wysely and on wyttely haue the all ivroghte. 
W^hen the cum ag:eyne the schall dy thatt same dey, 
And thus these vyle wreychis to deyth the schalhe hroght; 
Soche ys my lykyng:. 
He that ag-enst my lawys wyll hold, 
Be he kyng or keysar , neyuer soo hold, 
I shall them cast in to caris cold. 
And to deyth I schall them hryng. 

\_There Erode tjotk Jiis wet/s , and the iij Kyngis cum in ageyue.^ 

Rex j. 
O hlessid God, moche ys thy myght! 
YVhere ys this star thatt gawe vs lyght? 

Rex ij. 
IVow knele we tlowne here in this presence , 
Be sckyng that lord of hy maugnefecens ; 
That we ma see his hy exsellence, 
Yflf that his swet wylhc. 

Rex iij. 
Yondur , hrolhur , I see the star , 
Where liy I kno lie ys nott far ; 



THE NATIVITY. 81 

Therefore , lordis , goo we nar 
Into this pore place. 

iTherc the iij Kyuffis gois in to the Jesen , to Mare ^ and hir child.] 
Rex j. 
Hayle, Lorde thatt all this worlde hath wroght! 
Hale, God and man to gediir in fere ! 
For thow hast made all thyng: of nogiht, 
Alhe yt thatt thow lyist porely here. 
A cupe full [of] g:olde here I haiie the broght 
In toconyng: thow art w* owt pere. 

Rex ij. 
Hayle be thow , lorde of hy maugnyffecens ! 
In toconyng: of presteod, and dyngnete of offece. 
To the I ofFur a cupe full of in seiice; 
For yt be hovith the to haue soche sacrefyce. 

Rex iij. 
Hayle be thow, lorde longre lokid fore ! 
I haue brogfht the myre for mortalete , 
In to cunyng: thow sclialt manhynd restore , 
To lyff be thy deyth apoii a tre. 

Mare, 
God haue merce , kyngis , of yowre goodnes ! 
Be the gydyng: of the godhed hiddur are ye sent 5 
The provyssion of my swete sun your weyis whom reydres. 
And gfostely reywarde you for youre present. 

Rex j. 
Syr kyngris, aftur owre promes, 
Whome be Erode, I mvst nedis goo. 

Rex ij. 
Now truly , berthur , we can 1100 las 
But I am soo far wachid I wott not wat to do. 

Rex iij, 
Ryght soo am 1, where fore I you pray, 
Lett all vs rest vs awhyle upon this grownd. 

6 



82 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Hex j. 
Brclhiir , yoiu" seyinjy ys rig:bt well viito my pay ; 
The (jracc of thatt swet chyldc saue vs all sowude. 

Angell. 
Kyng' of Tawriis , S"^ Jesper! 
Kyiig: of Arraby , S' Balthasar ! 
Melclior byng: , of Ag^iiiare ! 
To you now am I sent. 
For drede of Eyrode, g:oo you west whom 
In to those perties when ye cum downe , 
Ye schalbe hyrrid w* {jret reynowne : 
The wholle Gost thus knoleyge hath sent. 

Rex j. 
Awake , S' Kyngis , I you praye , 
For the voise of an Ang:ell I hard in my dreme! 

Rex ij. 
Thatt ys full tru thatt ye do sey , 
For he reyherssid owre names playne. 

Rex iij. 
He bad thatt we schiild goo downe be west , 
For drede of Eryrodis fawls be traye. 

Rex j. 
Soo forto do yt ys the best. 
The child that we haue soght, gyde vs the wey! 
Now fare well the feyrist of schapp soo swete. 
And thankid be Jhu of his sonde , 
Thatt we iij to gedur soo suddenly schuld mete, 
Thatt dwell soo wyde , and in straunge lond , 
And here make owre presentacion 
Vnto this kyngis son clensid soo cleyne. 
And to his modur for ovre saluacion; 
Of moche myrth now ma ^ve meyne , 
Thatt we soo well hath done this obblacion. 

Rex ij. 
IVow farewell , S' Jaspar , brothur to you 
Kyng of Tawrus , the most worthe ; 



THE NATIVITY. 85 

S' Balthasar, also to you I bow. 
And I thanke you bothe of youre good cumpany , 
Tbatt we togeddur baue had. 
He tbatt made vs to mete on byll , 
I tbanke bym now and eyuer I wyll ; 
For now may we goo owt yll. 
And off owre offerynge be full fayne. 

Hex iij. 

IVow sytb tbatt we mvst nedly goo 
For drede of Erode , tbatt ys soo wrotbe , 
Now fare well , brotbur , and brotbur also ; 
I take my leve bere at you botbe 
Tbis dey on fote. 

Now be tbalt made vs to mete on playne , 
And offurde to Mare in bir jeseyne; 
He geve vs grace iu beyvin a gayne 
All to geyder to mete. 

Nuncios. 

Hayle, kyng most wortbist in wede ! 
Hayle , manteinar of curterse tbrogb all tbis world wyde ! 
Hayle, tbe most mygbtyst tbat eyuer bestrod a stede ! 
Ha[y]le, most monfullist mon in armor man to a byde ! 
Hayle , in tbyne boonowre ! 
Tbeese iij kyngis tbatt fortbe were sent. 
And scbuld baue cum ageyne before tbe bere present, 
Anotbur wey, Lorde, wbom tbe went 
Contrare to tbyn bonoure. 

Erode. 

A notbur wey ! — owt ! owt ! owt ! 
Hatb tbose fawls traytvrs done me tbis ded? 
I stampe, I stare, I loke all abowtt^ 
Mygbt I tbem take I scbuld tbem bren at a gletle \ 
I rent , I rawe , and now run I wode. 
A! tbatt tbese velen trayturs batb mard tbys my mode! 
Tbe scbalbe bangid yf I ma cum tbem to. 

[Here Erode ragis in thys pacfond, and m the strete also.] 

6* 



84 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

E ! and thatt kerne of Bedlem , he sehalbe ded , 
And thus schall I for do his profece. 
How sey you, S' knyghtis, ys not this the best red, 
Thatt all yongf chyldur for this schuld he dede, 
Wyth sworde to he slayne? 
Then schall I, Erod , lyve in lede. 
And all folke me dowt and drede , 
And ofFur to me bothe g:old , rychesse , and mede ; 
Thereto wyll the be full fayne. 

Myles j. 

My lorde , kyng: Erode be name ! 
Thy wordis agenst my wyll sehalbe. 
To see so many yong: chyldur dy , ys schame ; 
Therefore consell ther to gettis thu non of me. 

Myles ij. 

Well seyd, fello! my trawth I plyghtj 
S*^ kyng: ! perseyvc rijyht well you may, 
Soo grett a morder to see of yong: frute , 
Wyll make a rysyng in thi no one cuntrey. 

Erode. 

A rysyng- ! — owt ! owt ! owt ! 

[.There Erode ray is ayeyne , and then seyth thus; — 

Owt , velen wrychis ! bar apon you I cry , 
My wyll vtturly loke thatt yt be wroght, 
Or apon a gallowse bothe you schall dy. 
Be Mahownde, most myghtyste, thatt me dere hath boght! 

Myles j. 

IVow, cruell Erode, syth we schall do this dede. 
Your wyll ncdefully in this realme moste be wroght^ 
All the chyldur of thatt age dy the most nede , 
l\ow w* all my myght the schall be vpsoght. 

Myles ij. 

And I wo 1 1 sweyre here apon your bryght sworde, 
All the chyldur thatt I fynd sclaync the scludbe; 
Tli.'itt m.dic many a modur to wepe 



THE INATIVITY. 8S 

And be full sore aferde. 

In owre armor brygfht when the hus see. 

Erode. 
Now you have sworne forth that ye goo ; 
And my wyll thatt ye wyrke bothe be dey and nyght; 
And then wyll I for fayne trypp lyke a doo ; 
But whan the be ded , I warne you, bryng- ham be fore 
my syght. 

JlngeU. 
Mare and Josoff ! to you I sey , 
Swete word from the fathur I bryng you full ryght ; — 
Owt of Bedlem in to Eygype forth g:oo ye the wey, 
And w* you take the kyng: full of myght , 
For drede of Eroddis red. 

Josoff. 
A ryse up , Mare , hastcly and sone ! 
Owre Lordis wyll nedys most be done , 
Lyke ase the Angell vs bad. 

Mare. 
Mekely, Josoff, my one spowse, 
Towarde that cuntrey let vs reypeyre. 
Att Eygyp siun tocun off bowse, 
God grant hus grace saff to cum there ! 

\_Here the fVemen cum in wythe there chi/ldur , stjngt/nff them , 
and Mare and Josoff goth awey cleyne.^ 

IVotnanj. 
I lolle my chylde wondursly swete, 
And in my harmis I do hyt kepe. 
Be cawse thatt yt schuld not crye. 
IVoman ij\ 
Thatt babe thatt ys borne, in Bedlem, so meke , 
He saue my chyld and me from velany ! 
IVoman iij. 
Be styll ! be sty 11 ! my lyttul chylde ! 
That Lorde of lordis saue bothe the and me; 



M(> MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

For Erode lialh swornc w* wordis wyld, 
Tliatt all yon[« chyldiir sclayne the schalbe. 

Miles j. 
Sey ye wyddurde, wyvis, wyddiir ar ye a wey? 
AVliat beyre you in yoiire armis nedis mvst we see; 
Yff the he man chyldiu", dy the mvst thys dey. 
For at Eroddis wyll all thynjy mvst he. 

Myles ij. 
And I in handis wonys them hent , 
Them forto sley noght woll I spare ; 
We most full fyll Erodis commandement, 
Elis he we asse trayturs, and cast all in care. 

IVoman j. 
S' knyghtis I of youre curtesse 
Thys dey schame not youre ehevaldre , 
But on my child haue pytte. 
For my sake in this tyde. 
For a sympull selaghtur yt were to sloo , 
Or to wyrke soehe a chyld woo , 
Thatt can nodur speyke nor goo , 
IVor neuer harme did. 

IVoman ij. 
He thatt sleyis my chyld m syght, 
Yff thatt my strokis on hym ma lyght , 
Be he skwyar or knyght , 
I hold hym hut lost. 
Se thow fawls losyngere , 
A stroke schalt thow heyre me here y 
And spare for no cost. 

fVoman it/. 
Sytt he neyuer soo hy in saddull , 
But I schall make his hraynis addull , 
And here w' my pott ladull , 
W* hym woll I fyght. 

I schall ley on hym alhog , 1 wodc were, 
\V* thys same womanly gcyre ; 



THE NATIVITY. 8T 

There schall iioo man steyre, 
Wheddur thatt he be kyng^ or knyg:ht. 

Myles /. 

Who hard eyuer soche a cry 
Of wemeii, thatt there chyldur haue lost, 
And g:rettly reybuhyng chewaldry, 
Throgh owt this reme in eyuer cost, 
Wyche many a mans lyff ys lyke to cost; 
For thys g:rett wreyche thatt here ys done , , 
I feyre moche weng:ance ther off woll cimi. 

Myles ij. 

E 5 brothur , soche talis may we not tell , 
Where fore to the hyng: lett vs g:oo , 
For he ys lyke to beyre the bell, 
W^yche wasse the cawser that we did soo ; 
Yett must the all be brogrht hym to, 
W* waynis and wag:g:yns fully fryght : 
I tro there wolbe a carefull syght. 

Myles j. 

Loo ! Eyrode , kyngr ! here mast thow see 
How many M' thatt we haue slayne. 

Myles ij. 

And nedis thy wyll full fyllid must be. 
There ma no mon sey there ageyne. 

Nuncios. 

Eyrod, kyng! I schall the tell. 
All thy dedis ys cum to noght^ 
This child ys gone in to Eygipte to dwell. 
Loo ! S"" , in thy one land what wondurs byn wroght. 

Erod 
Into Eygipte , alas ! for woo , 
Lengur in lande here I canot abyde; 
SadduU my palfrey, for in hast wyll I goo 
Aftur yondur trayturs now wyll I ryde , 
Them for to sloo. 



88 MIRACLE -PI.AYS. 

IVow all men, liy fast, 

In to Ey^jipte in hast 5 

All Ihatt cuntrcy >voll I tasl, 

Tyll I ma cum them to. 

Fyiies lude de Taylars and Scharnieii. 

T[h]ys matter 

nevly eorrectc be Robart Croc, 

the xiiij*^ dey of Marche ; 

fenyschid in the yere of owre Lorde God 

MCCCCC and xxxiiijt« 

then beyng: Mayre , Mastiir Palmur: 

also Mastris of the seyd Fellysehipp, Hev. Corbett, 

Randiill Pynkard, and 

John Bagigely. 



THEISE SONGES 

RELOIVGE TO 
THE TAYLORS AND SHEAREME\S PAGANT. 

THE FIRST AND THE LASTE THE SHEPHEARDS SI\GE , 
AND THE SECOND OR MIDDLEMOST THE WOMEX SINGE. 



TH03f AS MAWDYCKE 

die decimo tertio Mai ; anno Domini quingentesimo nona- 
{jesimo primo. Praetor fuit civitatis Couventriai D. Mathfcus 
Richardson: tunc Consules Johannes AVhitehead el Thomas 

r»raiioner. 



THE NATIVITY. 



SONG I. 



80 



As I out rode this enderes niglit. 
Of thre ioli sheppardes I saw a sight. 
And all a bowte there fold a star shone brig^ht; 
They sange, terli, terlow; 
So mereli the sheppards ther pipes can blow. 

SONG II 

Lully , luUa , thow littel tine child ; 
By, by, lully, lullay, thow littell tyne child. 
By, by, lully, lullay. 

O sisters too ! how may we do , 
For to preserve this day 
This pore yongling: , for whom* we do singe 
%? ^y, lully, lullay. 

Herod, the king, in his raging, 
Chargid he hath this day 
His men of might, in his owne sight. 
All yonge childi-en to slay. 

That wo is me , pore child for the I 
And ever morne and day , 
For thi parting nether say nor singe. 
By, by, lully, lallay, 

SONG III. 

Doune from heaven, from heaven so hie. 
Of angeles ther came a great companie, 
W* mirthe, and ioy, and great solemnitye 
The sange , terly , terlow ; 
So mereli the sheppards ther pipes can blow. 



TOWrVELEY 



MIRACLE- PLAYS 



PHARAO. 



Pharao, 
Peas , of payn that no man pas ; 
But kepe the course that I commaunde, 
And take good hede of hym that has 
Youre helthe alle holy in hys hande , 
For hyng Pharro my fader was. 
And led thys lordshyp of thys land ; 
I am hys hayre, as ag:e wylle has. 
Ever in stede to styr or stand. 
Alle Egypt is myne awne 
To leede aftyr my law, 
I wold my myhte were knowne 
And honoryd, as hit awe. 
FuUe low he shalle he thrawne 
That harkyns not my sawe , 
Hanged hy and drawne, 
Therfor no hoste ye hlaw; 
But , as for kyng , I commaund peasse , 
To alle the people of thys empyre. 
Looke no man put hym self in preasse, 
Bot that wylle do as I desyre , 



94 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

And of yoiire wordes look that ye seasse. 
Take tent to me, youre soferand syre. 
That may youre comfort most increasse , 
And to my lyst bowe lyfe and lyre. 

Primus Miles. 

My Lord, if any here were. 
That wold not wyi'k youre wylle; 
If we myghte com thaym nere, 
FuUe soyn we shuld theym spylle. 
Pharao. 

Thrug^he out my kyng:dom wold I ken. 
And kun hym thank that wold me telle. 
If any were so waryd men. 
That wold my fors down felle. 
Secundus Miles. 

My Lord, ye have a manner of men 
That make great mastres us emelle; 
The Jues that won in Gersen, 
Thay ar callyd chyldyr of Israel. 
Thay multyplye fuUe fast. 
And sothly we suj^pose 
That shalle ever last , 
Cure lordshyp for to lose. 
Phm^ao. 

Why , how have thay syche g:awdes begun ? 
Ar thay of myght to make sych frayes ? 
Primus Miles. 

Yei, Lord, fulle felle folk ther was fun 
In kyng Pharao, youre faders, dayes. 
Thay cam of Josephe , was Jacob son , 
He was a prince worthy to prayse; 
In sythen in ryst have thay ay ron; 
Thus ar thay lyke to lose youre layse, 
Thay wylle confound you cleyn , 
Bot if thay soner seasse. 



PHARAO. 95 

Pharao. 
What, devylle, is that thay meyn 
That thay so fast incresse ? 

Secundus Miles. 

How thay incres fuUe welle we ken. 
As oure faders dyd understand; 
Thay were hot sexty and ten 
When thay fyrst cam in to thys land; 
Sythen have sojerned in Gersen 
Four hundred wynter, I dar warand; 
Now ar thay nowmbred of myghty men 
Moo then ccc thousand, 
W^ythe outen wyfe and chyld. 
Or hyrdes that kepe thare fee. 
Pharao. 

How thus myghte we be begyled! 
Bot shalle it not be; 

For wythe quantyse we shalle thaym quelle. 
So that thay schalle not far sprede. 
Primus Miles. 

My Lord, we have hard oure faders telle. 
And clerkes that welle couthe rede, 
Ther shuld a man walk us amelle 
That shuld fordo us and oure dede. 

Pharao. 
Fy on hym , to the devylle of belle , 
Syeh destyny wylle we not drede; 
We shalle make mydwyfes to spylle them 
W^here any Ebrew is borne. 
And alle menkynde to kylle them. 
So shalle thay soyn be lorne. 
And as for elder have I none awe , 
Syche bondage shalle I to theym beyde. 
To dyke and delf, here and draw. 
And to do all unhonest deyde ; 



96 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

So sliallc these latldes be holtleu law , 
III thraldom ever th.irc lyfe to leyde. 
Secundus 3iiles. 
Now, certes, thys was a sotelle saw, 
Thus sLalle these folk no farthere sprede. 
Pharao. 
l\ow help to hald tlieyiu dowiie, 
Look I no fayntiies fyade. 

Primus Miles. 
Alle redy, Lord, we shalle be bowne , 
In bondage thaym to bynde. 

\_Tune intrat Moyses cum virgd in maun , ctc,^ 

Moyses, 

Gret God, that alle thys warld began. 
And gTOwndyd it in good degre , 
Thou mayde me , Moyses , unto man , 
And sythen thou savyd me from the se , 
Kyng Pharao bad commawndyd than 
Tber shuld no man ehyld savyd be ; 
Agans bys wylle away I wanj 
Thus bas God showed bys might for me. 
IVow am I set to kepe. 
Under thys montayn syde, 
Byschope Jettyr shepe , 
To better may betyde; 
A , Lord , grete is thy myglit ! 
What man may of yond mervelle meyn ? 
Yonder I se a selcowtb syglit, 
Syche on in warld was never seyn ; 
A bush I se burnand fulle brygbt. 
And ever elyke the Icyfes ar greyn , 
If it be wark of warldely wygbt, 
I wylle go wyt wythoutyn weyn. 
Dens. 

Moyses ! Moyses ! 

\,nic propcrat a:l riihum, et diclt ci Dcvs . — 



PHARAO. 97 

Moyses com not to iiere, 
Bot stylle in that stede thou dwelle, 
And harkyn unto me here ; 
Take tent what I the telle. 
Do of thy shoyes in fere , 
AVyth mowth as I the melle; 
The place thou standes in there, 
Forsoth, is halowd welle. 
I am thy Lord, withouten lak. 
To leng:the thi lyfe even as I lyst; 
I am God that som tyme spake 
To thyn elders, as thay wyst; 
To Abraham, and Isaac, 
And Jacob, I sayde shulde be blyst. 
And multytude of them -to make , 
So that thare seyde slTuld not be myst. 
But now thys kyng:, Pharao, 
He hurtys my folk so fast. 
If that I suffre hym so , 
Thare seyde shuld soyne be past; 
Bot I wylle not so do , 
In me if thay wylle trast 
Bondag-e to bryng:e thaym fro. 
Therfor thou g:o in hast , 
To do my message have in mynde 
To hym, that me syche harme mase; 
Thou speke to hym wythe wordes heynde. 
So that he let my people pas 
To wyldernes, that thay may weynde 
To worshyp me as I wylle asse. 
Agans my wylle if that thay leynd, 
Ful soyn hys song: shalle be, alas. 
Moyses. 
A, Lord! pardon me, wyth thy leyf. 
That lynage luffes me noght; 
Gladly thay wold me greyf, 

7 . 



96: MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

If I syclic bodworde liroght. 
Good Lord, lottc som olhere frnst, 
Tlial lias more fors the f'olke to fere. 
Dens. 
Moyses , he thou nott ahast , 
My l)ydynj> shalle ihoii holdly here; 
If thay wyth wrong: away wold ^vrast , 
Outt of the way I shalle the were. 

3I0XIS€S. 

Good Lord, thay wylle not me trast 
For alle the othes that I can swere; 
To neven sych noytcs new 
To folk of wykyd wylle , 
Wyth outen tokyn trew, 
Thay wylle not tent ther tylle. 
Dens. 

If that he wylle not understand 
Thys tokyn trew that I shalle sent , 
Afore the kyng' cast down thy wand. 
And it shalle turne to a serpent ; 
Then take the taylle agane in hand. 
Boldly up look thou it hent. 
And in the state thou it fand 
Thou shal it turne by myne intent. '^■ 
Sythen hald thy hand soyn in thy l)arnie 
And as a lepre it shal he lyke , 
And hole a^jane with outen harme ; 
Lo , my tokyns shal he slyke. 
And if he wylle not suffre then 
My people for to pas in pcassc , 
I shalle send venyance ix or ten , 
Shcille so we fullc sore or I seasse. 
Bot ye Ehrewes , won in Jesscn , 
Shalle not he mcrkyd with that mcasse ; 
As long as thay my lawes wylle ken 
Thare comforthe shallo over inereasse. 



PHARAO. 99 



Moyses. 
A , Lord , to luf the aght us welle 
That makes thi folk thus free ; 
I shalle unto thaym telle 
As thou has told to me. 
Bot to the kyng:. Lord, when I com. 
If he aske what is thy name , 
And I stand stylle , hoth dcyf and dom , 
How shuld I skape withoutten hlame ? 

Deus. 

I say the thus , Ego sum qui sum , 
I am he that is the same ; 
If thou can nother muf nor mom , 
I shalle sheld the fi*om shame. 

Moyses. 
I understand fulle welle thys thyng-; 
I go. Lord, with alle the myght in me. 

Deus. 

Be hold in my hlyssyng: , 
Thi soeoure shalle I he. 

Moyses. 

A, Lord of luf, leyn me thy lare , 
That I may truly talys telle : 
To my freyndes now wylle I fare , 
The chosyu childre of Israelle, 
To telle theym comforthe of thare care , 
In dawngere ther as thay dwelle. 
God manteyn you evermare. 
And mekylle myrthe he you emelle. 

Primus Puer. 
A, master Moyses, dere! 
Oure myrthe is alle mowrnyng ; 
Fulle hard halden ar we here , 
As carls under the kyng, 

7' 



100 MIIWr.LF. - PLAYS. 

Secunehis Puev. 
We may mowrii, both more and myn, 
Tlier is no man that omc myrtli mase; 
Boi syn we ar allc of a kyn 
God send us comfortli in thys case. 

Moyses. 
Bretlicrc 5 of yoiirc mowrnyng: blyn, 
God wyllc delyver you thruglic liis g^race ; 
Out of this wo he wylle you wyn, 
And put you to youre pleassyng' place ; 
For I shalle carp unto the kyng: , 
And fownd fiille soyn to make you free. 
Primus Puer. 
God grant you good weyndyng, 
And evermore with you be. 
Moyses. 
Kyn|>: Pharao, to me take tent. 

PJiarao. 
Why 5 boy , what tythynges can thou telle ? 

^loifses. 
From God hym self hyder am I sent 
To foche the chyldre of Israelle; 
To wyldernes he wold tliay went. 
• Pharao. 

Yei, weynd the to the devylle of belle ; 
I gyf no force what he has ment , 
In my dangere, herst thou, shalle thay dwelle; 
And , fature , for thy sake , 
Thay shalbe pent to pyne. 
3Ioyses. 
Then wylle God venyance take 
Of the 5 and of alle thyn. 
Pharao. 
On me ? fy on the lad , out of my land ! 
Wenys thou thus to loyse ourc lay? 



PHARAOv 101 

Say 5 whence is yoiid warlow with his >vaiiil 
That thus itvohl wyle oiae folk away ? 
Pi'imus Myles. 

Yoiid is Moyses, I dar warand, 
Ajyaas alle Egypt has beyii ay ; 
Greatt defawte with hym yoiire fader faiid ; 
Now wylle he mar you if he may. 
Pharao. 

Fy on hym ! nay, nay, that dawnce is done j 
Lurdan , thou loryd to late. 
Moyses. 

God bydes the graunt my bone. 
And let me go my gate. 

Phmmo. 

Bydes God me? fals loselle, thou lyse ! 
What tohyn told he? take thou tent. 
Moyses. 

He sayd thou shuld dyspyse 
Both me , and hys commaundement ; 
Forthy , apon thys ^vyse , 
My wand he bad, in thi present, 
I shuld lay downe , and the avyse 
How it shuld turne to oone serpent. 
And in hys holy name 
Here I lay it dow^ne ; 
Lo , syr , here may thou se the same. 
Pharao. 

A. ha, dog! the deville the drowne ! 
Moyses. 

He bad me take it by the taylle , 
For to prefe hys powere playn. 
Then sayde , wythouten faylle , 
Hyt shuld to a wand agayn. 
Lo , sir , behold. 



102 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Pharao. 
VVyth yl a haylle ! 
(Series this is a sotelle swayn ; 
Bot tliysc lioyes sballe abyde in baylle , 
AUc tbi gawdes sballe tbaym not f»ayn; 
Bot wars, botb morne and none, 
Sballe tbay fare, for tbi sake. 

Moyses 
I pray God send lis venyang^e sonc. 
And on tbi warbes take wTake. 
Primus Miles. 
Alas , alas ! tbis land is lorne ! 
On lyfe we may [no] longer leynd ; 
Sycbe myscbefe is fallen syn morne, 
Tber may no medsyn it amend. 
Pharao. 
Wby cry ye so? laddes, lyst ye skorne? 

Secundus Miles. 
Syr kyng, sycbe care was never kend, 
In no mans tyrae tbat ever was borne. 
Pharao. 
Telle on, belyfe, and make an end. 

Primus Miles. 
Syr, tbe waters tbat were ordand 
For men and bestes foyde , 
Tbrugbe oiitt alle E(yypt land, 
Ar turnyd into reede bloyde; 
Fulle ugly and fulle ylle is bytt, 
Tbat botbe fresbe and fayre was l)efbrc. 
Pharao. 
O, ho! this is a wonderfulle tbyng to wytt 
Of all tbe warkes tbat ever wore. 
Secundus Miles. 
IVay , Lord, tber is anotbere yit. 
Thai sodaiily sovvys us fulle sore ; 



105 



For todes and froskes may no man flyt, 
Thay venom us so, botbe les and more. 
Primus Miles. 
Greatte mystes, sir, there is bothe morne and noyn, 
Byte us fulle bytterly : 
We trow that it be done 
Thrughe Moyses, oure greatte cnmy. 
Secundus Miles. 
My Lord , hot if this menye may remefe ; 
Mon never myrthe be us amang. 
Pharao. 
Go 5 say to hym we wylle not grefe , 
Bot thay shalle never the tytter gayng. 
Primus Miles. 
Moyses, my Lord gyffys leyfe 
To leyd thi folk to lykyng lang, 
So that we mend of onre myschefe. 
Moyses. 
Fulle welle, I wote , thysc wordes ar wrang ; 
Bot hardely alle that I heytt 
Fulle sodanly it shalle be seyn : 
Uncowth mervels shalbe meyt 
And he of malyce meyn. 

Secundus 3Iiles. 
A, Lord, alas, for doylle we dy ! 
We dar look oute at no dowre. 
Pharao. 
What, ragyd the dwylle of belle, alys you so to cry ? 

Primus Miles. 
For we fare wars then ever Me fowre i 
Grete loppys over alle this land thay fly , 
And where thay byte thay make grete blowre , 
And in every place oure bestes dede ly. 
Secundus Miles. 
Hors , ox , and asse , 
Thay falle downc dede , syr , sodanly. 



104 AlIRVr.LK- PLAYS. 

Pharno. 
We, io , Iher is no man thai has 
Half as inychc harme as I. 

Primus Miles. 
Yis , sir, poore folk have mekylle wo. 
To se thare eatalle thus out cast. 
The Jiies in Gessen fayrc not so , 
Thay have lykyiig- for to last. 
Pharao . 
Then shalle we g:yf theym leyf to go 
To tyme this perelle he on past ; 
Bot, or thay flytt oght far us fro, 
We shalle them Lond twyse as fast. 
Secundus MUes. 
Moyses, my Lord g^yffes leyf 
Thi meneye to remeve. 

Moyses. 
Ye mon hafe more myschefe 
Bot if thyse talys he trew. 

Primus Miles. 
A, Lord, we may not leyde thyse lyfys. 

Pharao. 
What , dwyllc , is grevance grofen agayn ? 

Secundus Miles. 
Ye, sir, sich powder apon us dryfys. 
Where it ahides it makes a hlayn; 
Meselle makes it man and wyfe ; 
Thus ar we hurt with hay lie and rayn. 
Syr, unys in montanse may not thryfe , 
So has frost and thoner thaym slayn. 
Pharao. 
Yei , hot how do thay in Gessen , 
The Jucs , can ye me say ? 

Primus Miles. 
Of hIIc these cares no Ihyng Ihay ken , 
'I hay fcyllc noghlo of our afray. 



PHARAO. 105 

Pharao. 
No? the ragyd, the dwylle, sytt thay in peasse? 
And we every day in doute and drede? 
Secundus Miles. 
My lord , this care will ever encrese , 
To Moyses have his folk to leyd; 
Els he we lorne , it is no lesse , 
Yit were it hetter that thai yede. 
Pharao. 
Thes folk shall flyt no far. 
If he g-o welland wode. 

Primus MUes. 
Then wille it sone he war. 
It were hetter thay yode. 

Secundus ' Miles. 
My lord, new harme is comyn in hand. 

Pharao. 
Yei , dwille , wille it no hetter be ? 

Primus Miles. 
Wyld wormes ar layd over all this land. 
Thai leyf no floure ^ nor leyf on tre. 
Secundus Miles. 
Ag:ans that storme may no man stande ; 
And mekylle more mervelle thynk me , 
Thatt these iij dayes has hene durand 
Siche myst, that no man may other se. 
Primus Miles. 
A, my Lord ! 

Pharao. 
Hag:he ! 

Secundus Miles. 
Grete pestilence is comyn ; 
It is like ful long: to last. 
Pharao. 
Pestilence ? in the dwilys name I 
Then is oure pride over past. 



IOC MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Primus Miles. 
My Lord , this care lastcs laiig- , 
Aud nille to Moyses have his boue : 
Let hyni go, els wyrk we wraug:, 
It may not help to hover ne hone. 
Pharao. 
Then wille we {}'if theym leyf to g'an,o' , 
Syn it must ncdes be doyn ; 
Perchaiins we shall e tliaym fauj»: 
And mar them or to morne at none. 
Seciuidus Miles. 
Moyses, my lord he says 
Thou shalle have passage playn. 
Moyses. 
Now have we lefe to pas , 
My freyndes , now be ye fayn ; 
Com furtlie; now shalle ye weynd 
To land of lykyng: you to pay. 
Primus Puer. 
Bot kyng: Pharao , that fals feynd. 
He will us eft betray ; 
Fulle soyn he wille shape us to sheynd , 
And after us send his garray. 
3Ioyses. 
Be not abast, God is oure freynd. 
And alle oure foes wille slay; 
Therfor com on with me. 
Have done and direde you noght. 
Secundus Puer. 
That Lord blyst might he be , 
That us from baylle has broght. 
Primus Puer. 
Siche frenship never we fand ; 
Bol yit I drede for perels alle , 
The Reede Sec is here at hand , 
Ther shal ^vo bydc io wo be thrall e. 



PHARAO. 



107 



Moyses. 
I shallc make way ther with my wand, 
As God has sayde , to sayf us alle ; 
On ayther syde the see mon stand. 
To we be g:one , rig:ht as a walle. 
Com on wyth me, leyf none hehynde , 
Lo fownd ye now yoiire God to pleasse. 

\_Hic pertrausient wj«re.] 

Secimdiis Puer. 
O, Lord! this way is heynd ; 
Now weynd us all at easse. 

Primus Miles. 
Kyng: Pharao ! thyse folk ar gone. 

Pharao. 
Say, ar ther any noyes new? 

Secundus Miles. 
Thise Ebrews ar gone, lord, everichon. 

Pharao. 
How says thou that? 

Primus 3Iiles. 
Lord, that taylle is trew. 

Phat^ao. 
We 5 out tyte , that they were tayn : 
That ryett radly shall thay rew; 
We shalle not seasse to thay be slayn. 
For to the see we shall thaym sew; 
So charge yoiu-e chariottes swythe , 
And fersly look ye folow me. 
Secundus Miles. 
Alle redy, lord, we ar fulle blythe 
At youre byddyng to be. 

Primus Miles. 
Lord, at youre byddyng ar we bowne 
Oure bodys boldly for to beyd ; 
W^e shalle not seasse, hot dyng alle downe , 
To alle be dede withoulen drede. 



lOS MIllACLE- PLAYS. 

Pharao. 
Heyf up youre hertes iinlo Mahowiie , 
lie nillc be neie us in oure uede ; 
Help , the rag:g:yd dwylle , we di'owiie ! 
Now mou we dy for alle oure dede. 

[Time merget eos marc] 

Moijses. 

Now ar we won from alle oure wo , 
And savyd out of the see 5 
Lovyng: gyf we God unto , 
Go we to land now merely. 
Primus Puer. 

Lofe we may that Lord on hy^jht , 
And ever telle on this mervelle; 
Drownyd he has Kyng- Pharao myp/ht, 
Lovyd he that Lord Emanuelle. 
Moyses. 

Heven, thou attend, I say in syght; 
And erthe my wordys , here what I telle. 
As rayn or dew on erthe doys lyght 
And waters , herhys , and trees fuUe welle , 
Gyf lovyng: to Goddes mag^este, 
Hys dedys ar done , hys ways ar trew. 
Honowred be he in trynyte , 
To hym be honowre and verteu. 

AMEN. 



UXPLICIT PUAUAO. 



PASTORES. 100 



PASTORES. 



Primus Pastor. 

Lord, what these weders ar cold, and I am ylle happyd; 
I am iiere haiide dold , so long: have I nappyd ; 
My legys thay fold , my fyngers ar chappyd , 
It is not as I wold, for I am al lappyd 

In sorow. 
In stormes and tempest. 
Now in the eest, now in the west. 
Wo is hym has never rest 

Myd day nor morow. . 
Bot we sely shepardes , that walkys on the moore , 
In fayth we are nere handes outt of the doore ; 
No wonder as it standys if we be poore. 
For the tylthe of oiire landes lyys falow as the floore. 

As ye ken. 
We are so hamyd. 
For taxed and ramyd , 
We ar mayde hand tamyd, 

AVithe thyse gentlery men. 
Thus thay refe us oure rest, Oure Lady theym wary. 
These men that ar lord fest thay cause the ploghe tary. 
That men say is for the best we fynde it contrary. 
Thus ar husbandes opprest , in point to myscary , 

On lyfe. 
Thus hold thay us hunder. 
Thus thay bryng: us in blonder , 
It were g:reatte wonder , 

And ever shuld we thryfe. 
For may he g:ett a paynt slefe or a broche now on dayes. 
Wo is hym that hym g:refe, or onys agane says, 
Dar no man hym reprefe, what mastry he mays. 



110 MIR \CI.E- PLAYS. 

And yit may no man Icfo oone word that he says 

i\o letter. 
He can make piirveauce, 
With boste and bragance. 
And alle is thrughe mantenaiice 

Of men that are gretter. 
Ther shalle com a swane as prowde as a po , 
He must borow my wane, my ploghe also. 
Then I am fulle fane to graunt or he go. 
Thus lyf we in payne , anger , and wo , 

By nyght and day; 
He must have if he langyd. 
If I shuld forgang it , 
I were better be hangyd 

Then oones say hym nay. 
It dos me good, as I walk thus by myn oone, 
Of this warld for to talk in maner of mone : 
To my shepe wylle I stalk and herkyii anone, 
Ther abyde on a balk, or sytt on a stone 

Full soyne. 
For I trowe , parde , 
Trew men if thay be , 
"We gett more compane 

Or it be noyne. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Benste and Dominus ! what may this bemeyne? 
W^hy fares this warld thus oft have we not sene. 
Lord 5 thyse weders ar spytus , and the weders fulle kene ; 
And the frost so hydus thay water myn eeyne, 

No ly. 
Now in dry , now in wete , 
Now in snaw , now in slete , 
When my shone freys to my fete 

It is not alle esy. 
Bot as far as I ken , or yit as I go , 
We sely wodmeu uro mekvUe wo; 



PASTORES. Hi 

We have sorow then and then, it fallys oft so, 
Sely Capyll , oiire hen , both to and fro 

She kahyls, 
Bot beg:yn she to eroh , 
To grroyne or to clok , 
Wo is hym of oure cok , 

For he is in the shekyls. 
These men that ar wed have not alle thare wylle, 
When they ar fuUe hard sted thay syg:he fulle styllej 
God wayte thay ar led fulle hard and fulle ylle , 
In bower nor in bed thay say noght ther tylle. 

This tyde. 
My parte have I fun, 
I know my lessun. 
Wo is hym that is bun. 

For he must abyde. 
Bot now late in oure lyfys, a marvel to me. 
That I thynk my hart ryfys siche wonders to see. 
What that destany dryfys it shuld so be , 
Som men wylle have two wyfys , and som men thre , 

In store. 
Som ar wo that has any; 
Bot so far can I, 
W^o is hym that has many , 

For he felys sore. 
Bot yong' men of wowyng-, for God that you boght. 
Be welle war of wedyng:, and thynk in youre thog:ht 
<<Had I wyst" is a thyng- it servys of nog:ht ; 
Mekylle stylle mowrnyng: has wedyng- home brogfht 

And grefys , 
With many a sharp showre , 
For thou may cache in an owre 
That shalle savour fulle sowre 

As long as thou lyffys. 
For , as ever red I pystylle , I have oone to my fere , 
As sharp as thystylle , as rugh as a brere , 



il2 MIHACLE - PLAYS. 

She is hrowyd lyke a l>rystylle, with a sowre, loten, chere ; 
Had she ooiies wett hyr whystyll she couth syng^ fuUe clere 

Ilyr pater iioster. 
She is as greatt as a whalle. 
She has a galoii of goalie. 
By hyin that dyed for us alle ! 

I wald I had ryn to I lost hir. 
Primus Pastor. 
God looke over the raw, fulle defly ye stand. 

Secundiis Pastor. 
Yee 5 the deville in thi maw , so tariand , 
Saghe thou awro of Daw ? 
Primus Pastor. 
Yee , on a ley land 
Hard I hyni Maw , he eommys here at hand , 

Not far ; 
Stand tylle. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Qwhy? 

Primus Pastor. 
For he eommys hope I. 

Secundus Pastor. 
He wylle make us hoth a ly 
Bot if we he war. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Crystes crosse me spede and Sant IVyeholas, 
Tlier of had I nede , it is wars then it was. 
Whoso eouthe take hede , and lett the warld pas , 
It is ever in drede and hrekylle as glas. 

And slythys. 
This warld fowre never so , 
With mervels mo and mo , 
IVow in weylle, now in wo , 

And alle thynj* wry thy s. 
W^as never syn ]\oe lloode sieh floodes seyn, 
Wyndes and ranys so rude , and stormes so keyn , 



PASTORES. 115 

Som stamerd, som stod in dowte , as I weyii. 
Now God tui'ue alle to good, I say as I meue. 

For ponder. 
These floodes so tliay drowne. 
Both in feyldes and in towne , 
And berys alle downe , 

And that is a wonder. 
We that walk on the nyghtys oure catelle to hepe. 
We se sodnn syghtes when othere men slepe: 
Yet me thynk my hart lyghtes^, I se shrewys pepe , 
Ye ar two alle wy(>htes, I wylle gyf my shepe 

A turne. 
Bot fuUe ylle have I ment. 
As I walk on this bent, 
I may lyg:htly repent. 

My toes if I spiirne. 
A, sir, God you save, and master myne ! 
A drynk fayn wold I have and somwhat to dyne. 

Primus Pastor. 
Crystes curs, my knave, thou art a ledyr hyne. 

Seciindus Pastor. 
W^hat, the boy lyst rave, abyde unto syne 
W^e have mayde it. 
Ylle thryfte on thy pate ! 
Thoug^he the shrew cam late 
Yit is he in state 

To dyne, if he had it. 

Tercius Pastor. 

Siche servandes as I, that swettys and swynkys , 

Etys oure brede fulle drye , aud that me forthynkys ; 

W^e are oft weytt and wery when master men Tvynkys , 

Yit commys fulle lately both dyners and drynkys , 

Bot nately. 
Bothe oure dame and oure syre, 

^Vhen we have ryn in the myre , 

8 



114 MIRACLE -PL\YS. 

Thay can nyp at oiire liyre , 

And pay us fulle lately. 
Bot here my trouthe , master, for the fayr that ye make 
I shalle do theraftcr wyrk , as I take; 
I shalle do a lyttlle, sir, and emanjy ever lake , 
For yit lay my soper never on my stomake 

In feyldys. 
AVherto shuld I threpe ? 
With my staff can I lepe , 
And men say -lyght chepe 

Letherly for yeldes." 

Primus Pastor. 
Thou v^ere an ylle lad, to ryde on wowyug: 
AVith a man that had hot lytylle of spendyng'. 
Secundus Pastor. 
Peasse hoy I bad, no more jangiling:. 
Or I shall make the fulle rad, by the hevens kyng ! 

With thy gawdys; 
Wher ar oiu'e shepe, hoy, we skorne? 
Tercius Pastor. 
Sir, this same day at morne, 
I them left in the corne, 

W^hen thay rang: lawdys ; 
Thay have pasture g:ood, thay can not go wrong:. 
Primus Pastor. 
That is right, by the roode, thyse nyghtes ar long-, 
Yit I wold 5 or we yode , oone gaf us a song*. 

Secundus Pastor. 
So I thog^ht as I stode, to myrth us emong'. 
Tercius Pastor. 
I g^raunt. 

Primus Pastor. 
Lett me syng- the tenory. 

Secundus Pastor. 
And I the Iryhle so hye. 



PASTORES. US 

Tertius Pastor. 
Then the meyiie fallys to me ; 
Lett se how ye chauntt. 

[Tunc intrat Mak in clamide se super totjam vestitus.] 

Mak. 
Now Lord, for thy iiaymes seven, that made both moyii 
and starnes 
Welle mo then I can neven : thi wille, Lorde, of me tharnys ; 
I am alle uneven , that moves oft my harnes , 
Now wold God I were in heven, for ther wepe no harnes 
So stylle. 

Primus Pastor. 
Who is that pypys so poore ? 
Mak. 
Wold God ye wyst how I fbore ! 
Lo a man that walkes on the moore , 
And has not alle his wylle. 
Secundus Pastor. 
Mak, where has thou g^one ? tell us tythyng-. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Is he commeu? then ylhon take hede to his thing:. 

[£> accipit clamidem ah ipso.} 

Mak. 
W^hat, ieh he a wyoman, I telle you^ of the king-; 
The self and the same, sond from a greatt lordyng:, 

And siehe. 
Fy on you, goythe henee. 
Out of my presence, 
I must have reverence , 

W^hy , who he iehe ? 

Primus Pastor. 
Why make ye it so qwaynt ? Mak , ye do wrang. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Bot, Mak, lyst ye saynt? I trow that ye lang\ 

Tercius Pastor. 
I trow the shrew^ can paynt, the de wylle my ffhthymhang^! 

8* 



I 1<; MIRACLE -PLA.YS. 

3iak. 

Ich shallc make complaynt, and make you alle to thwang 

At a worde , 

And tell evyn how ye doth. 

Primus Pastor. 

Bot Mak, is that sothe ? 

IVow take outt that solhien tothe 

And sett in a torde. 

Secundus Pastor. 

Mak 5 the dewille in your ee , a stroke wold I leyne you. 

Tercius Pastor. 

Mak, know ye not me? hy God I couthe teyle you. 

Mak 

God looke you alle thre, me thought I had sene you. 

Ye ar a fare compane. 

Primus Pastor. 

Can ye now mene you ? 

Secundus Pastor. 
Shrew, jape 5 

Thus late as thou goys , 

What wylle men suppoys ? 

And thou has an ylle noys 

Of stelyng' of shepe. 

3Iak. 

And I am trew as steylle alle men waytt, 

Bot a sekenes I feylle that haldes me fulle haytt. 

My hclly farys not weyllc, it is out of astate. 

Tercius Pastor. 

Seldom lyys the dewylle dcde hy the gate. 

Mak. 
T her fore 

Fulle sore am I and ylle. 

If I stande stone styllc; 

I ete not an nedylle 

Thys moneth and more. 

Primus Pastor. 

How farys thi wyff ? hy my hoode , how farys sho ? 



PASTORES. H7 

Mak. 
Lyys walteryiig: , by the roode , by the fyere lo , 
And a bowse fulle of briide, she drynkys welle to, 
Ylle spede othere good that she wylle do; 

Bot so 
Etys as fast as she can , 
And ilk yere that commys to man , 
She brynges furthe a lakan. 

And som yeres two. 
Bot were I not more graeyus , and rychere befar, 
I were eten outt of bowse, and of harbar, 
Yit is she a fowUe dowse , if ye com nar : 
Ther is non that trowse, nor knowys a war. 

Then ken I. 
Now wylle ye se what I profer , 
To g-yf alle in my cofer 
To morne at next to offer 

Her bed mas penny. 

Secundus Pastor. 
I wote so forwakyd is none in this shyre : 
I wold slepe if I takyd les to my byere. 
Tercias Pastor. 
I am cold and nakyd, and wold have a fyere. 

Primus Pastor. 
I am wery for rakyd , and run in the myre. 
Wake thou! 

Secundus Pastor. 
Nay, I wylle lyg downe by. 
For I must slepe traly. 

Tercius Pastor. 
As good a manys son was I 
As any of you. 
Bot, Mak, com beder, betwene shalle thou lyg downe. 

3Iak. 
Then myght I lett you bedene : of that ye Avoid rowne, 
No drede. 



I lU M1U\<,LK- PLAYS. 

Fro my top to my too 
Manns tiias commendo 
Pont 10 Pilato, 

Cryst erosse me specie. 

[Tintc surtjii , pastorilms tlonuicntibus , cl iJicii 

IVow Avere tyme for a man , that lakkys what he wold 
To stalk priv ely than unto a fold , 
And neemly to wyrk than, and be not to bold, 
For he myjjht aby the bargan , if it w ere told 

At the endyng. 
Now w ere tyme for to reylle ; 
Bot he nedes g-ood counselle 
That fayn w old fare weylle , 

And has bot lytylle spendyng. 
Bot abowte you a serkylle, as rownde as a moyn. 
To I have done that I wylle, tylle that it be noyu, 
That ye lyg stone stylle, to that I have doyne. 
And I shall say thertylle of good wordes a foyne. 

On bight 
Over youre heydes my hand I lyft, 
Outt go youre een, fordo your syght, 
Bot yit I must make better shyft , 

And it be right. 
Lord! what thay slepe hard, that may ye alle here; 
Was I never a shepard, bot now wylle I lere. 
If the flok be skard, yit slialle I nyp nere. 
How drawes hederward : now mendes oure chere 

From sorow : 
A fatt shepe I dar say , 
A good flese dar I lay. 
Eft whyte when I may, 

Bot this wille I borow. 
How, Gylle , art thou in? Gett us som lyght. 
Uxor Ejns. 
Who makys sich dyn this tyme of (lie nyght ? 
I am sett for to spyn: I \\ii\H\ not 1 myghl 



PASTORES. 119 

Ryse a penny to wyn : I shrew them on hi^ht. 

So farys 
A huswyiF that has hene 
To he rasyd thus hetwene : 
There may no note he sene 

For sich smalle charys. 
Mak. 
Good wyff, open the hek. Seys thou not what I hryng:? 

Uxor. 
I may thole the dray the snek. A, com in, my swetyng'. 

Mah. 
Yee 5 thou thar not rek of my long standyng. 

Uxor. 
By the nakyd nek art thou lyke for to hyng. 

Mak. 
Do way : 

I am worthy my mete , 

For in a strate can I gett 

More then thay that swynke and swette 

Alle the long day, 
Thus it felle to my lot , Gylle , I had sich grace. 

Uxor. 
It were a fowlle hlott to he hanged for the case. 

Mak. 
I have skapyd, Jelott , oft as hard a glase. 

Uxor. 
«Bot so long goys the pott to the water," men says, 
"At last 
Comys it home hroken. " 

iMak. 
Welle knowe I the token, 
Bot let it never he spoken; 

Bot com and help fast. 
I wold he were flayn ; I lyst well ete : 
This twelmothe was I not so fayn of oone shepe mete. 



1120 



MIIiACLE - PLAYS. 



Uxor. 
Com tbny or he be slayn , and here the shepe blete ? 

Mak. 

Then myght I he t;ine : that were a eoltl swette. 
Go spar 
The gaytt doore. 

Uxof. 
Yis Mak , 
For and thay com at thy bah. 

3Iak. 
Then myght I by for alle the pak 
The dewille of the war. 

Uxor. 
A g:ood bowrde have I spied, syn thou ean none: 
Here sballe we hym hyde, to thay be gone; 
In my credylle abyde. Lett me alone. 
And I shalle lyg: besyde in chylbed and grone. 

Jfak. 
Thou red; 
And I shalle say thou was lyght 
Of a knave ehilde this nyglit. 

Uxor. 
Now welle is me day bright. 
That ever I was bred. 
This is a good gyse and a far cast ; 
Yit a woman avyse lielpys at the last. 
I wote never who spyse: agane go thou fast. 

Mak. 
Bot I com or thay ryse, els blawes a cold blast. 
I wyllc go slepe. 
Yit slepys alle this meneye. 
And I shalle go stalk prevely. 
As it had never bene I 

That caryed thare shepe. 



PASTORES. 121 

Primus Pastor. 
Resurrex a mortruis: have hald my hand. 
Judas carnas dominus , I may not welle stand: 
My foytt slepys , by Jesus , and I water fastand. 
I thog-ht that we layd us fulle nere Yng:land. 
Secundus Pastor. 
A ye! 
Lord ! what I have slept weylle ; 
As fresh as an eylle, 
As lyg:ht I me feylle 

As leyfe on a tre. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Benste be here in. So my qwahys 
My hart is outt of shyn, what so it makys. 
Who makys alle this dyn ? So my browes blakys , 
To the dowore wylle I wyn. Harke felows , wakys ! 

We were fowre : 
Se ye awre of Mak now? 

Primus Pastor. 
We were up or thou. 

Secundus Pastor. 
'^^Man, I gyf God a vowe , 
Yit yede he nawre. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Me thog-ht he was lapt in a wolfe skyn. 

Primus Pastor. 
So are many hapt now namely within. 

Secundus Pastor. 
When we had long: napt, me thog^ht with a g-yn 
A fatt shepe he trapt, hot he mayde no dyn. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Be stylle: 
Thi dreme makes the woode : 
It is hot fantom , by the roode. 



18S MIKAtLK - PLAYS. 

Primus Pastor. 
IVow God turne alle to gfood , 
If it be bis wylle. 

Secundus Pastor, 
Ryse 5 Mak , for sbame ! tbou lyges rigbt laug. 

Mak, 
IVow Crystes boly name be us eniaiijj , 
AVbat is tbis for? Sant Jame ! I may not welle gang'. 
I trow I be tbe same. A! my neb has lygen wrang 

Euoghe. 
Mekille tbank , syn yister even 
Now, by Sant Strevyn! 
I was flayd witb a swevyn 

My bart out of slogbe. 
I tbogbt Gylle began to crok , and travelle fulle sad, 
Welner at tbe fyrst cok, of a yong lad. 
For to mend oiu'e flok: tben be I never glad. 
I bave tow on my rok , more tben ever I bad. 

A , my beede ! 
A bouse fulle of yong tbarmes, 
Tbe dewiUe knok outt tbare barnes 
Wo is bym lias many barnes , 

And tberto lytylle brede. 
I must go borne, by youre lefe , to Gylle as I tbogbt. 
I pray you look my slefe, tbat I steylle nogbt : 
I am lotb you to grefe , or from you take ogbt. 
Terchis Pastor. 
Go furtb , ylle mygbt tbou cbefe , now wold 1 avc sogbt, 
Tbis morne, 
Tbat we bad alle oiu'C store. 

Primus Pastor. 
Bot I wille go before , 

Let us mete. 

Secundus Pastor. 
AVbore? 

Tvrcius Pastor. 

At \\\p rrokyd tboriie. 



PASTOllES. 125 

Mak. 
Undo this doore! who is here? how long- shalle I stand? 

Uxor Ejus. 
Who makys sich a here ? now walke in the wenyand. 

Mak. 
A, Gylle, what chere? it is I, Mak, youre hushande. 

Uxor. 
Then may we he here , the dewille in a hande , 
Syr Gyle. 
Lo, he commys with a lote 
As he were hoi den in the throte. 
I may not syt at my note, 
A hand lang: while. 

3Iak.^ 
Wylle ye here what fare she makys to get hir a glose , 
And do noght hut lakys and elowse hir toose. 

Uxor. 
Why , who wanders , who wakys, who comys, who gose ? 
W^ho hrewys, who hakys ? what makes me thus hose ? 

And than 
It is rewthe to he holde , 
Now in hote , now in colde , 
Fulle wofulle is the householde 
That wants a woman. 
Bot what ende has thou mayde with the hyrdys, Mak? 

Mak. 
The last worde that thay sayde, when I turnyd my bak, 
Thay wold looke that thay have thare shepe alle the pak. 
I hope thay wylle not he welle payde, when thay thare shepe lak. 

Perde. 
Bot how so the gam gose. 
To me they wylle suppose , 
And make a fouUe noyse. 

And cry outt apon me. 
Bot thou must do as thou hyght» 



124 



MIKACLi: -PLAYS. 



Uxor. 
I accorde me tbertylle. 
I shalle swedylle Lyin right in my credyllc. 
ir it were a gretter slyglit, yit coutlie I helpe tylle. 
I wylle lyg dowiie striglit. Com hap me. 

3Iak. 

I wylle. 
Uxor. 
Behyude. 
Com Colle and his maroo, 
Thay wylle nyp us fiiUe naroo. 

3Iak. 
Bot I may cry out haroo. 

The shepe if thay fymle. 
Uxor. 
Harken ay when thay calle : thay wille com anone. 
Com and make redy alle , and syng: hy thyn oone , 
Syng: lullay thou shaUe , for I must grone , 
And cry outt hy the walle on Mary and John , 

For sore. 
Syng: lulLiy on fast 
AVhen thou heris at the last; 
And hot I play a fals east 
Trust me no more. 

Tercius Pastor. 
A, Colle, goode morne : why slepys thou noil? 

Primus Pastor. 
Ah>s, that ever was I borne! we have a fowlle hlot. 
A fat weilir have we lorne. 

Tercius Pastor. 

Mary, Codes forhott ! 
Secundus Pastor. 
Who shuld do us that skorne ? that were a fowlle spott. 
Primus Pastor. 
Some shrewe. 
I have soght with my doges 



PASTORES. 125 

Alle Horbery shroges. 
And of XV hoges 

Fond I hot oone ewe. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Now trow me if ye wille ; by Sant Tbomas of Kent! 
Ayther Mak or Gylle was at that assent. 

Primus Pastor. 
Peasse , man , be stille ; I sagb when he went. 
Thou shlanders hjm. ylle; thou ag:ht to repent. 
Goode spede. 

Secundiis Pastor. 
Now as ever myght I the. 
If I shuld evyn here de, 
I wold say it were he. 

That dyd that same dede. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Go we theder I rede , and ryn on oure feete. 
Shalle I never ete brede, the sothe to I wytt. 

Primus Pastor. 
Nor drynh in my heede with hym tylle I mete. 

Secundus Pastor. 
I wylle rest in no stede , tylle that I hym g:rete , 
My brothere 
Oone I wille bight : 
Tylle I se hym in sight 
Shalle I never slepe one nyght 
Ther I do anothere. 

Tercius Pastor* 
Wille ye here how thay hak, oure syre, lyst, croyne. 

Primus Pastor. 
Hard I never none crak so clere out of toyne. 
Calle on hjm. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Mak! undo youre doore soyne. 



i2(i 



MIKAt.I.K -PLAYS. 



Mak. 
Who is that spak , as it were uoyue? 
On loft, 
Who is that I say? 

Tercius Pastor. 
Goode felowse, were it day. 

Mak. 
As far as ye may, 

Good, spekes soft 
Over a seke womaiis heede , that is at maylle easse, 
I had lever be dede or she had any dyseasse. 

Uxor. 
Go to an othere stede ; I may not welle qweasse. 
Ich fote that ye trede goys thorow my nese 
So hee. 

Primus Pastor. 
Telle us , Mak , if ye may , 
How fare ye , I say ? 

Mak. 
Bot ar ye in this towne to day ? 
Now how fai"e ye? 
Ye have ryn in the myre , and ar weytt yit : 
I shalle make you a fyre, if ye wille syt. 
A nores wold I hyre ; thynk ye on yit, 
Welle qwitt is my hyre , my dreme this is itl 

A seson. 
I have harnes if ye knew , 
Welle mo then enewe , 
Bot we must drynk as we brew. 

And that is bot reson. 
I wold ye dynyd ar ye yode : me thynk that ye swette. 
Secundus Pastor. 
IVay, nawther mendys oure mode, drynke nor mette. 

Mak. 
Why, sir, alys you ojyht bot g:oode ? 



PASTORES. 127 

Tercius Pastor. 

Yes , our sliepe that we g'ett, 
Ar stollyii as tliay yocle. Cure los is grette. 

Mak. 
Syrs 5 drynkes. 
Had I bene tliore 

Some sbuld have boght it fulle sore. 
Primus Pastor. 
Mary , some men trowes that ye wore , 
And that us forthynkes. 

Secundiis Pastor. 
Mak, some men trowes that it sbuld be ye. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Ayther ye or youre spouse ; so say we. 

Mak: 
Now if ye have suspowse to Gille or to me , 
Com and rype oure bowse, and then may ye se 

Who had hir. 
If I any shepe fott, 
Aythor cow or stott. 
And Gylle , my wyfe , rose nott 
Here syn she lade hir. 
As I am and true and lele , to God here I pray , 
That this be the fyrst mele that I shalle ete this day. 
Primus Pastor. 
Mak, as have I ceylle , aryse the, I say, 
He lernyd tymely to steylle that couth not say nay. 

Uxor. 
I swelt. 
Outt , thefys , fro my wonys ! 
Ye com to rob us for the nonys. 

Mak. 
Here ye not how she gronys ? 
Your hartys sbuld melt. 
Uxor. 
Outt , thefys , fro my barne ! negh hym not thore. 



199 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Mnk. 
Wyst yc how she had fai*ne , youre hartys wold be sore. 
Ye do Avrang- , I you w ariie , that thus commys before 
To a womau that has farnc; hot I say no more. 

Uxor. 
A my medylle! 
I pray to God so mylde, 
If ever I you beg^yld. 
That I ete this chylde , 

That lyg^es in this credylle. 
3fak. 
Peasse, woman, for Godes payn, and cry not so: 
Thou spyllys thy brane, and makes me fulle wo. 
Secundiis Pastor. 
I trow oure shepe be slayn , what finde ye two ? 

Tercius Pastor. 
AUe wyrk we in vayn : as welle may we go. 
But hatters 
I can fynde no flesh. 
Hard nor nesh. 
Salt nor fresh , 

Bot two tome platers. 
Whik catelle bot this , tame nor wylde , 
None, as have I blys, as lowde as he smylde. 

Uxor. 
IVo, so God me blys, and gyf me joy of my chylde. 

Primus Pastor. 
We have marked amys : I hold us begyld. 
Secundiis Pastor. 
Syr, don. 
Syr, oure lady hym save, 
Is youre chyld a knave? 

3Iak. 
Any lord myght hym have 

This cliyld to his son. 
When he wakyns he kyppys, tliat joy is to se. 



PASTORES. 129 

Tercius Pastor. 
Ill good tyme to hys liyppys, and in cele. 
Bot who was hys gossyppys, so sone rede? 

Mak. 
So fare falle thare Ij'pps. 

Primus Pastor, 

Hark now, a le. 
Mak. 
So God thaym thank, 
Parkyn, and Gybon Waller, I say. 
And gientille John Horne^, in g:ood fay. 
He made alle the garray. 

With the gTeatt shank. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Mak 5 freyndes wille we be , for we are alle oone. 

Mak. 
We now I hald for me, for mendes gett I none. 
Fare welle all tlu*e; alle glad were ye gone. 
Tercius Pastor. 
Fare wordes may ther be, but luf ther is none 
This yere. 

Primus Pastor. 
Gaf ye the chyld any thyng? 

Secundus Pastor. 
I trow not oone farthyng. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Fast agayne wille I flyng, 
Abyde ye me there. 
Mak, take it to no grefe, if I com to thi barne. 

Mak. 
IVay, thou does me greatt repreife, and fowUe has thou fame. 

Tercius Pastor. 
The child wille it not grefe, that lytylle day starne. 
Mak 5 with youre lefe, let me gyf youre barne , 
Bot vj pence. 

9 



iSO MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Mak 
IVay, do way: he slepys. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Me Ihynk he pepys. 

Mak. 
When he wakyns he wepys. 
I pray you go hence. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Gyf me lefe hym to kys, and lyft up the clowtt. 
What the demlle is this? he has a lono- snowte. 
Primus Pastor. 
He is markyd amys. ^Ve wate ille ahowte. 

Secundiis Pastor. 
Ille spon weft , iwys , ay commys fouUe owte. 
Ay, so? 
He is lyke to oure shepe. 

Tercius Pastor. 
How 5 Gyh 5 may I pepe ? 

Primus Pastor. 
I trow, kynde wille crepe 

W^here it may not go. 

Secundus Pastor. 
This was a qwantte gawde, and a far cast. 
It was a hee frawde. 

Tercius Pastor. 

Yee, syrs, wast. 
Lett hren this hawde and hynd hir fast. 
A fals skawde hang at the last; 

So shalle thou. 
W^ylle ye se how thay swedjlle 
His foure feytt in the medylle? 
Sagh I never in a credylle 

A hornyd lad or now. 
Mak. 
Peasse hyd I: what! Ictt be youre fare; 
T am he that hym gatt, and yond woman hym hare. 



PASTORES. 151 

Primus Pastor. 
What dewlUe shall he hatt? Mak, lo God Makys ayre, 

Secundus Pastor. 
Let he alle that. Now God gyf hym care , 
I sag:h. 

Uxor. 
A pratty child is he 
As syttes on a womanys kiie ; 
A dylly dowiie , perde , 

To gar a man lagfhe- 

Tercius Pastor. 
I know hym by the cere marke : that is a good tokyn. 

3Iak. 
I telle you, syrs, hark: hys noys was broken. 
Sythen told me a clerk, that he was forspokyn. 
Primus Pastor. 
This is a false wark. I wold fayn be wrokyn: 
Gett wepyn. 

Uxor. 
He was takyn with an elfe ; 
I saw it myself. 
When the clok stroke twelf 
W^as he forshapyn. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Ye two ar welle feft, sam in a stede. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Syn thay manteyn thare theft, let do thaym to dede. 

Mak. 
If I trespas eft, gyrd of my heede. 
With you wille I be left. 

Primus Pastor. 

Syrs , do my reede. 
For this trespas , 
We wille nawther ban ne flyte 
Fyght nor chyte, 
Bot have done as tyte , 

9* 



152 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

And cast liym in canvas. 
Lord! what 1 am sore, in poynt for to bryst; 
In faytli I may no more, therfor wylle I ryst. 

Secundus Pastor. 
As a slicpe of vij. sliore be weyd in my fyst. 
For to slepe ay ^vbore, me tbynk tbat I lyst. 

Tercuis Pastor. 
Now I pray you, 
Ly{f downe on tbis grene. 

Primus Pastor. 
On these tbeftes yit I mene. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Wberto sbuld ye tene? 
Do as I say you. 

[^AISGELUS cantat « Gloria in excelsis :" poslea dicat. 
Ryse, byrd men beynd, for now is be borne 
Tbat sball tabe fro tbe feyud tbat Adam bad lorne: 
Tbat warloo to sbeynd, tbis nygbt is be borne. 
God is made youi'c freynd: now at tbis morne. 

He bebestys; 
At Bedlem ^o se , 
Tber lyges tbat fre 
In a cryb fulle poorely, 

Betwix two bestys. 

Primus Pastor. 
Tbis was a qwant stevyn tbat ever yit I bard. 
It is a marvellc to nevyn tbus to be skard. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Of Godcs sou of bevyn be spak up ward. 
AUc tbe wod on a levyn me tbogbt tbat be g:ard 
Appere. 

Tercius Pastor. 
He spake of a barne 
In Bedlem I you warnc. 



PASTORES. 155 

Primus Pastor. 
That betokyiis yonder stariie. 
Let us seke hym there. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Say, what was his song? hard ye not how he crakydit? 
Thre brefes to a long\ 

Tercius Pastor. 

Yee, mary, he hakt it. 
Was no crochett wrong, nor no thyng that lakt it. 
Primus Pastor. 
For to syng us emong, right as he knakt it, 
I can. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Let se how ye croyne. 
Can ye bark at the mone? 

Tercius Pastor. 
Hold yoiu'e tonges, have done. 

Primus Pastor. 
Hark after, than. 

Secundus Pastor. 
To Bedlam he bad that we shuld gang: 
I am fulle fard that we tary to lang. 
Tercius Pastor. 
Be mery and not sad : of myrth is oure sang , 
Ever lastyng glad to mede may we fang, 
Withoutt noyse. 

Primus Pastor. 
Hy we theder for thy; 
If we be wete and wery. 
To that chyld and that lady 

We have it not to slose. 

Secundus Pastor. 
W^e fynde by the prophecy — let be youre dyn — 
Of David and Isay, and mo then I myn; 
Thay prophecyed by clergy, that in a vyr{»:yn 
Shuld he lyght and ly, to slokyn oure syn 



154 



MIRACLE -PLAYS. 



Ami slake it, 
Oiirc kyiide from wo; 
For Isay sayd so. 
Cite vivgo 

Concipiet a chyld that is nakyd. 

Teixius Pastor. 
FuUe g:lad may we be , and ahyde that day 
That liifly to se, that alle myj>htcs may. 
Lord welle were me, for ones and for ay, 
Myght I knelc on my kne som word for to say 

To that chylde. 
Bot the angelle sayd 
In a cryl) was he layde , 
He was poorly arayd. 

Both mener and mylde. 

Primus Pastor. 
Patryarkes that has bene , and prophetes beforne , 
Thay desyrd to have sene this chylde that is borne. 
Thay ar gone fulle elene, that have thay lorne. 
We shall e se hym, I weyu , or it be morne 

To tokyn. 
When I se hym and fele , 
Then wote I fulle weylle 
It is true as steylle 

That prophetes have spokyn. 
To so poore as we ar , that he wold appere , 
Fyrst fynd, and deelare by his messyn{>ere. 
Secundus Pastor. 
Go we now, lett us fare: the place is us nere. 

Tercius Pastor. 
I am redy and yare: go we in fere 
To that bright. 
Lord! if thi wylles be. 
We ar lewd alle thre. 
Thou {jrauntt us somkyns gle 

To comforth thi wight. 



PASTORES. 155 

Primus Pastor. 
Haylle comly and cleiie; haylle yong: child! 
Haylle maker, as I meyne, of a madyii so mylde! 
Thou has waryd, I weyne, the warlo so wyhle, 
The fals gyler of teyii, now goys he hegyldc. 

Lo, he merysj 
Lo , he laghys , my swetyng , 
A welfare metyng , 
I have holden my hetyng. 

Have a boh of cherys. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Haylle, sulTeran savyoure , for thou has us soght! 
Haylle frely foyde and floure, that alle thyng- has wroght! 
Haylle fuUe of favoure, that made alle of noght! 
Haylle! I kneylle and I cowre. A hyrd have I hroght 

To my harne. 
Haylle lytylle tyne mop, 
Of our crede thou art crop! 
I wold drynk on thy cop , 
Lytylle day starne. 

Tercius Pastor. 
Haylle , derlyng dere , fuUe of godhede ! 
I pray the he nere when that I have nede. 
Haylle! swete is thy chere : my hart wold blede 
To se the sytt here in so poore wede 

With no pennys. 
Haylle! put furthe thy dalle, 
I hryng the hot a balle : 
Have and play the with alle, 
And go to the tenys. 

Maria. 
The fader of heven, God omnypotent. 
That sett alle on seven, his son has he sent. 
My name couthe he neven and lyght or he went. 
I conceyvid hym fuUe even, thrugh myght as he ment; 
And new is he borne. 



156 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

lie kepc you Iro >vo : 
I shall c pray liyni so; 
Telle furth as ye }»o, 

And rnyii on this morne. 

Primus Pastor. 
Farewellc, lady, so fare to bcholde, 
AYith thy chylde on thi kne. 

Secundus Pastor. 

Bot he ly(fes fulle cold. 
Lord! wellc is me: now wg g-o, thou behold. 
Tercius Pastor. 
For sothe alle redy, it semys to be told 
Fulle oft. 

Primus Pastor. 
What grace we have fun. 

Secundus Pastor. 
Com furthe, now ai* we won. 

Tercius Pastor. 
To syng ar we bun : 

Let take on loft. 



EXPLICIT 1>.VCIN.V I'ASTORUM. 



CRLTCIFIXIO. 



CRUCIFIXIO. 



157 



Pilatus, 

Pcasse I byd cveryeicli wight; 
Stand as stylle as stone in walle, 
Wliyles ye ar present in my syp^lit. 
That none of ye clatter ne calle ; 
For if ye do yoiire dede is dygfht, 
I warne it you Loth grreatte and smalle. 
With this brand burnyshyd so bright, 
Therfor in peasse loke ye be alle. 
^Vhat ! peasse in the dwillys name ! 
Harlottes and diistards aile bedene. 
On gains ye be maide fuUe tame, 
Thefes and mychers keyn; 
Wille ye not peasse when I bid you? 
By Mahownys bloode ! if ye me teyn , 
I shalle ordan sone for you , 
Paynes that never ere were seyn , 

And that anone: 
Be ye so bold beggars , I warn you , 
Fulle boldly shalle I bett you. 
To belle the dwille shalle draw you, 

Body, bak, and bone. 
I am a lord that mekylle is of myght, 
Prynce of alle Jury, sir Pilate I highte, 
IVext kyng Herode gryttyst of alle, 
Bowys to my byddyng bothe greatt and smalle. 

Or els be ye shentt ; 
Therfore stere youre tonges, I warn you alle. 

And unto us take tent. 



158 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Primus Tortor. 
Alle pcasse , alle peasse , emaiip; you alle ! 
And herkyns now what sliallc hcfalle 

Of this fals chuffer here; 
That with his fals quantyse. 
Has lett hym self as God wyse, 

Emanges us many a yere. 
He cals hym self a prophett. 
And says that he can bales bete. 

And make all thynges amende 5 
Bot or lang: wytt we shalle , 
Wheder he can bete his awne bale. 

Or skapp out of oure hende. 
Was not this a wonder thyng:, 
That he durst calle hym self a kyng: 
And make so greatt a lee? 
Bot, by Mohowne! whyls I may lyf 
Those prowde wordes shalle I never forgyf, 
Tylle he be hang:ed on he. 
Secundus Tortor. 
His pride, fy, we sett at noght, 
Bot ich man kest in his thoght. 

And looke that we noght wante; 
For I shalle fownde, if that I may. 
By the order of knyghtede, to day. 
To cause his hart pante. 
TerciHS Tortor. 
And so shalle I with alle my myght. 
Abate his pryde this ylk nyght. 

And rekyn hym a crede. 
Lo , he Icttes he cowtle none ylle , 
Bot he can ay, when he wylle, 
Do a fuUe fowlle dede. 
Qucirtns Tortor. 
Yei fclows , yei, as ha\e I rest; 
Emangcs us alle I red we kest 



CRUCIFIXIO- 

To bryng this thefe to dede: 
Looke that we have that we shuld nate. 
For to hald this shrew strate. 
Primus Tortor. 
That was a nobylle red; 
Lo, here I have a bande , 
If iiede he to bynde his hande; 

This thwong:, I trow, wille lasL 
Secundus Tortor. 
And here oone to the othere syde. 
That shalle abate his pride. 

Be it be drawen fast. 
Tercius Tortor. 
Loj here a hamere and nales also. 
For to festen fast oure foo 

To this tre fiille soyn. 
Quartiis Tortor. 
Ye are wise, withoutten drede. 
That so can help yourself at nede 

Of thyng: that shuld be done. 
Primus Tortor. 
Now dar I say hardely. 
He shalle with alle his mawmentry 
No long^ere us be telle. 
Secundus Tortor. 
Syn Pilate has hym tylle us g^eyn. 
Have done, belyfe, let it be seyn 

How we can withe hym melle. 
Tercius Tortor. 
Now ar we at the Monte of Calvarye, 
Have done, folows, and let now se 
How we can with hym lake. 
Quartus Tortor. 
Yee , for as modee as he can loke. 
He wold have turnyd an othere croke 
Myg^ht he have had the rake. 



159 



|/<0 



>IIRACLE-PLAVS. 



Primus Tortor. 
In faylh , syi* , sen yc callyd you a kyng , 
Yo must prufe a worthy tliyng 

That falles unto the were; 
Ye must just in tornamente, 
Bot ye sytt fast els ye be shent. 

Els downe I shalle you here. 

Secundus Tortor. 
If thou he Godes son, as thou tellys. 
Thou can the kepe ; how shuld thou ellys ? 

Els were it mervelle greatt; 
And hot if thou can, we wille not trow 
That thou has saide, bote make the mow 
When thou syttes in yond sett. 

Tercius Tortor. 
If thou be kyng: we shalle thank adylle , 
For we shalle sett the in thy sadylle. 

For fallyng: be then bold : 
I bete the welle thou bydys a shaft, 
Bot if thou sytt welle thou had better laft 
The tales that thou has told. 

Qiiartus Tortor. 
Stand nere, felows , and let se 
How we can hors oure kyng: so fre, 

By any craft 5 
Stand thou yonder on yond syde, 
And we shalle sc how he can ryde , 
And how to weld a shaft. 

Primus Tortor. 
Syr, comniys heder and have done. 
And wyn apon youre palfray sonc , 

For he redy bowne: 

If yc be bond to hym be not wrothe. 

For l)e ye secure we were fulle lothe 

On any wyse that yc felle downc. 



CRUCIFIXIO. 141 

Secundus Tortor. 
Knit thou a kiiott, withe alle thi strength, 
For to draw this arme on lengthe, 
Tylle it com to the bore. 
Tercius Tot^tor. 
Thou maddes , man, hi this light! 
It wantys, tylle ich manis sight, 

O there half span and more. 
Quartus Tortor. 
Yit drawe out this arme and fest it fast. 
Withe this rope, that welle wille last. 
And ilk man lay hand to. 
Primus Tortor. 
Yee , and hynd thou fast that hand , 
We shalle go to that oth&r hand 

And lohe what we can do. 
Secundus Tortor. 
Do dryfe a naylle ther thrughe outt. 
And then thar us nothyng doutt. 
For it wille not hrest. 
Tercius Tortor. 
That shalle I do, as myght I thryfe. 
For to clynk and for to dryfe 

Therto I am fulle prest; 
So let it styk, for it is wele. 
Quartus Tortor. 
Thou says sothe, as have I cele, 
Ther can no man it mende. 
Primus Tortor. 
Hald downe his knees. 

Secundus Tortor. 

That shalle I do. 
His noryse yede never better to 5 
Lay on alle your hende. 
Tercius Tortor. 
Draw out hys lymmes , let se , have at. 



iA2 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Qiiartus Tortor. 
That was welle drawen that that. 
Fare falle hym that so puld! 
For to have getteii it to the marke 
I trow lewde man, iie clerk, 
IXothyiig: better shuld. 

Primus Tortor. 
Hald it now fast thor. 
And oone of you take the bore. 

And then may it not faylle. 

Secundus Tortor. 
That shalle I do witthoutten drede. 
As ever myght I welle spede, 
Hym to mekylle bayle. 

Tercms Tortor. 
So , that is welle , it wille not brest , 
Bot let now se who dos the best 

Withe any slejjthe of hande. 

Quartus Tortor. 
Go we now unto the othere ende ; 
Felowse , fest on fast yoiire hende , 

And puUe welle at this band. 

Primus Tortor. 
I red, felowse, by this wedyr. 
That we draw alle ons togedir. 

And loke how it wille fare. 

Secundus Tortor. 
Let now se and leyf youre dyn, 
And draw we ilka syn from syn. 
For nothyng: let us spare. 

Tercius Tortor. 
Nay, felowse, this is no gam, 
We wille no longcrc draw alle sam. 
So mckille have I asspyed. 



CRtJCIFIXIO. 145 

Qiiartus Tortor. 
No, for as have I blys, 
Som can twyk, who so it is, 

Sekes easse on som kyn syde. 
Primus Tortor. 
It is better as I hope, 
Oone by his self to draw this rope , 

And then may we se 
Who it is that ere while 
AUe his felows can begyle 
Of this companye. 

Secundus Tortor. 
Sen thou wille so have here for me; 
How draw I, as myght thou the? 
Tercius Tortor. 
Thou drew rig:ht wele, 
Have here for me half a foyte. 

Qiiartus Tortor. 
Wema, man! I trow thou doyte. 
Thou flyt it never a dele; 
Bot have for me here that I may. 

Primus Tortor. 
Welle drawen, son, hi this day! 

Thou g:ose welle to thi warke. 
Secundus Tortor. 
Yit efte, whils thi hande is in, 
PuUe ther at with som kyn gyn. 
Tercius Tortor. 
Yei, and bryng: it to the marke 
Quartus Tortor. 
PuUe, puUe! 

Primus Tortor. 
Have now. 

Secundus Tortor. 
Let se. 



1 ^44 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Tercius Tortor. 
A ha ! 

Quartus Tortor. 
Yit a drag'ht, 

Prinms Tortor. 
Therto mth allc my maglit. 
Seeundns Tortor. 
A, ha, hold stillc thore. 

Tercius Tortor. 
So felowse ! lookc now belyfe 
Whiche of you cau best dryfe. 

And I shalle lake the bore. 
Quartus Tortor. 
Let me go therto , if I shalle 
I hope that I be the best mershaile 

For [to] clynke it right; 
Do rase hym up now when we may , 
For I hope he and his palfray 

Shalle not twyn this nyght. 

Primus Tortor. 
Come hedir, felowse, and have done. 
And help that this tre sone 

To lyft with alle youre sleght. 

Secundus Tortor. 
Yit let us wyrk a whyle. 
And no man now othere begyle 

To it be broght on heght. 
Tercius Tortor. 
Felowse, fest on alle youre hende 
For to rase this tre on ende , 

And let se who is last. 
Quartus Tortor, 
I red we do as that he says , 
Set we the tre on the mortase , 

And ther wille it stand fast. 



CRUCIFIXIO. 143 

Primus Tortor. 
Up with the tymbre. 

Secundus Tortor. 

A, it heldys. 
For hym that alle this warld weldys, 
Put fro the with thi hande. 
Tercius Tortor. 
Hald even emaiig-es us alle. 

Quartus Tortor. 
Yee , and let it into the mortase falle , 
For then wille it best staude. 
Primus Tortor. 
Go we to it and be we strong- , 
And rase it, be it never so long:, 
Sen that it is fSst bon. 
Secundus Tortor. 
Up with the tymbre fast on ende. 

Tercius Tortor. 

A felowse , fare falle yoiu*e hende ! 

Quartus Tortor. 

So sir, gape ag^ans the son! 

Primus Tortor. 

A felow, war thi crowne! 

Secundus Tortor. 
Trowes thou this tymbre wille oght downe? 
Tercius Tortor. 
Yit help that it were fast. 
Qum^tus Tortor. 
Sog'h hym welle and let us lyfte. 

Primus Tortor, 
Fulle shorte shalbe hys thryfte. 
Secundus Tortor. 
A, it standes up lyke a mast 
Jesus, 
I pray you pepylle, that passe me by. 
That lede youre lyfe so lyhandly, 

to 



146 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Heyt'c up youre liertes on highte; 
Behold if ever ye saw body 
Sufl'er and bett thus blody. 

Or yit thus dulfully dight; 
h\ warld was never no wight 

That suflfred half so sare. 
My mayn , my mode , my myght , 
Is noght hot sorow to sight, 

And eomfurthe none hot care ; 
My folk, what have I done to the. 
That thou alle thus shalle tormente me ? 

Thy syn by I fuUe sone. 
What have I grevyd the? answere me, 
That thou thus nalys me to a tre. 

And alle for thyn erroure : 
Where shalle thou seke socoure? 

This mys how shalle thou amende. 
When that thou thy saveoure 
Dryfes to this dyshonoure , 

And nalys thrughe feete and hende? 
Alle creatoures that kynde may kest, 
Beestys, byrdes, alle have thay rest. 

When thay ar wo begon ; 
Bot Godes son, that shuld be best. 
Has not where apon his hede to rest, 

Bot on his shulder bone: 
To whome now may I make my moue 

When thay thus martyr me. 
And sakles wille me si one , 
And bete me bloode and bone, 

That my brethere shidd be? 
What kyndncs shidd I kythe theym to? 
Have I not done that I aght to do, 

Maide the to my lyknes? 
And thou thus ryfes me rest and ro , 
And lettes thus lightly on nie , lo 



CRUCIFIOO. l%7 

Siche is thy catyfiies ; 
I have the kyd kyiidnes , uiikyiidly thou me quytys ; 
Se thus thi wehydnes, loke how thou me dyspytys. 
Gyltles thus am I put to pyne , 
IVot for [my] mys , man, hot for thyiie , 

Thus am I rent on rode ; 
For I that tresoure wold not tyne 
That I markyd and made for myne ; 

Thus hy I Adam hlode 
That soidien was in syn , 
With none erthly good 
Bot with my flesh and blode 
That lothe was for to wyn. 
My brethere that I cam forto by 
Has hang-ed me here, thus hedusly. 

And freyndes fynde I foyu ; 
Thus have thay dight me drerely , 
And alle by spytt me spytusly , 

As he] pies man in won. 
Bot Fader that syttes in trone 

Forgyf thou them this gylt , 
I pray to the this boyn , 
Thay wote not what thay doyn , 

IVor whom thay have thus spylt. 
Primus Tortor. 
Yis, what we do fuUe welle we knaw. 

Secundus Tortor, 
Yee , that shalle he fynde within a thraw. 

Tercius Tortor. 
Now, with a myschaunce tylle his cors, 
Wenys he that we gyf any force 

What dwille so ever he aylle ? 
Quartus Tortor. 
For he wold tary us alle day 
Of his dede to make delay 

I telle you, sansfaylle. 

10^ 



148 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Primus T<yrtov. 
Lylt us this trc emanjjes us allc. 

Secundus Tortor. 
Yce , and let it into the mortase falle , 
And that shalle {>'av hym Lrest. 
Tercius Tortor. 
Yec , antl allc to ryfe hym lym from lym. 

Qiiartus Tortor. 
And it wille breke ilk jonte in hym ; 
Let se now who dos hest. 

Maria. 
Alas the doyle I dre! I drowpe, I dare in drede; 
Whi hynges thou, son, so hee ? my baylle hegynnes to brede. 
Allc blemyshcd is thi ble , I se tlii body blede , 
In warld, son, were never we so wo as I in wede. 
My foode that I have fed. 
In lyf longyng the led, 
Fulle stratly art thou sted 

Emanges thi foo men felle: 
Sich sorow forto se, 
My dere barn, on the. 
Is more mowrnyng: to me 

Then any tong may telle. 
Alas! thi holy hede 
Has not wheron to held, 
Thi face with blode is red 

Was fare as floure in feylde; 
How shuld I stand in sted 
To se my barne thus blede , 
Bete as bio as ledc. 

And has no lym to weyldc? 
Festynd both handes and feete 
With nalys fulle unmete. 
His woundcs wryngyng wete , 

Alas , my childe , for care ! 



CRUCIFIKIO. i49 

For alle rent is thi hyde , 
I se on ay there syde 
Teres of blode downe glide 

Over alle tbi body bare , 

Alas that ever I shuld ])yde and se my feyr thus fare f 

Johannes, 

Alas 5 for doylle , my lady dere ! 

Alle for cliangid is thy cliere. 

To see this prynce withoiiten pere 

Thus lappyd alle in wo : 
He was thi foode, thi faryst foine , 
Thi luf, thi lake, thi luffsom son, 
That hig-h on tre thus bynges alone 

With body blak and bio ; 

Alas! 
To me and maiiy mo a good master be was. 
Bot, lady, sen it is bis wille 
The prophecy to fulfylle , 
That mankynde in sy[n] not spille , 

For them to thole payn; 
And with bis ded raunson to make , 
As prophetys beforn of hym spake , 
For thi I red thi sorowe thou slake , 

Thi wepyng may not gayn 
In sorowe ; 

Oure boytt he byes fulle bayn. 

Us alle from bale to b or owe. 
Maria. 
Alas ! thyn een as cristalle elere, that shone as son in sight. 
That lufly were in lyere , lost thay have thare light 
And wax alle faed in fere , alle dym then ar thay dight , 
In payn has thou no pere , that is withoiitten pigbt. 
Swete son, say me thi thoght; 
What wonders has thou wroght 
To be in payn thus broght, 

Thi blissetl blodo to blende ? 



Ii50 MlHAlXt -IM.WS. 

A soil , think on my ^\o , 
AVbi ^ville thou fare me fro? 
On mold is no man mo 

Tliat may my myrthes amende. 

JoJmnnes. 
Comly lady , gfood and eouthe , fayn wold I comforth the ; 
Me mynnys my master ivith mowth told unto his menyee 
That he shuld thole fulle mekille payn and dy apon a tre , 
And to the lyfc ryse up aoayn, apon the thryd day shuld it be 

Fulle right; 
For thi 5 my lady swete , 
Stynt a while of grete , 
Oiu'e bale then wille he bete 

As he before has hig:ht. 

3Iaria. 
My sorow it is so sad no solace may me safe, 
Mowrnyng: makes me mad , none hope of help I hafe ; 
I am redles and rad , for ferd that I mon rafe , 
Nog'hte may make me glad to I be in my grafe. 
To deth my dere is dryffen. 
His robe is alle to ryffen. 
That of me was hym gyffen 

And shapen withe my sydes: 
Thise Jues and he has stryfFen 

That alle the bale he bydes. 
Alas! my lam so mylde, whi wille thou fare me fro 
Emang thise wulfes wylde, that wyrke on the this wo? 
For shame who may the shelde, for freyndes has thou f o ? 
Alas! my comly childe, whi wille thou fare mc fro? 
Madyns , make youre mone , 
And wepe ye , wyfes , everyichon , 
Withe me, most wriche, in wonc. 

The childe that borne was best : 
My harlo is styf as stone, 

riiat for no bayllc wille brest. 



CRUGIFIXIO. 131 

Johannes. 
A, lady, welle wote I thi hart is fulle of care 
When thou thus openly sees thi childe thus fare; 
Luf gars hym rathly, hym self wille he not spare 
Us alle fro baylle to by , of blis that ar fulle bare 
For syn; 

My leve lady, for thy of mowrnyng loke thou blyn. 

Maria. 

Alas ! may ever be my sang-, whyls I may lyf 'u\ leyd , 

Me thyuk now that I lyf to lang to se my barne thus blede ; 

Jues wyrke with hym alle wrang , wherfor do thay this dede ? 

Lo so hy thay have hym hang, thay let for no drede; 

Whi so? 
His fomen is he emang, no freynde he has hot fo. 
My frely foode now farys me fro , what shalle worthe on me ? 
Thou art warpyd alle in wo and spred here on a tre 

Fulle bee ; 
1 mowrne, and so may mo, that sees this payn on the. 
Johannes, 
Dere lady, welle were me 
If that I myght comforthe the , 
For the sorow that I se 

Sherys myn harte in sonder; 
AVhen that I se my master hang 
With bytter paynes and Strang, 
W^as never wight with wrang 

AVroght so mekille wonder. 
Maria. 
Alas ! dede, thou dwellys to lang, whi art thou hid fro me ? 
Who kend the to my childe to gang? alle blak thou makes 

his ble ; 
IVow witterly thou wyrkes wrang , the more I wille wyte the, 
Bot if thou wille my harte stang that I myght with hym dee 

And byde. 
Sore syghyng is my sang, for thyrlyd is his hyde, 
A, dede, what has thou done? with the wille I moytt sone; 



158 



MIRACLE -I'L.WS. 



Sen I had childer none hot oone, best under son ormoyn, 
Freyndes I had f'uUe foyn, that gars me grete and grone 

Fulle sore. 
Good Lord, graunte me my boyn, and let me lyf no more! 
Gabrielle! that good som tyme thou can me grete. 
And then I undcrstud thi wordes that were so swete, 
Bot now thay meng my moode, for grace thou can me hete 
To here alle of my bloode a childe oure baylle shuld bete 

With right. 
Now hynges he here on rude, where is that thou me bight? 
Alle that thou of blys bight me in that stede 
From myrthe is faren omys, and yit I trow thi red ; 
Thy councelle now of this, my lyfe how shalle I lede 
When fro me gone is be that was my hede 

In by? 
3Iy dede now comen it is. my dere son, have mercy! 

Jesus. 
My moder mylde, thou chaunge thi chere. 
Cease of thi sorow and sigbyng sere, 

It syttes unto my hart fulle sore ; 
The sorow is sharp I suffre here, 
Bot doylle thou drees, my moder dere. 

Me marters mekille more. 
Thus wille my fader 1 ftu'c 

To lowse manhynde of bandys. 
His son wille be not spare 
To lowse that bon was are 

Fulle fast in feyndes bandes. 
The fyrst cause, moder, of my coniynj; 
Was for manliynde myscarying. 

To salf tbarc sore I sogbtj 
Therfor, moder, make none mowrnyng 
Sen niaidiynde thrugh my dyyng- 

May Hiiis to blis be boght. 
Woman, wepe tlioii right nogbl, 

T.dio thcr Johne unto fhl cliYldo, 



CRUCIFIXIO. 

Maiikyiide must nedes be bog:ht; 
And thou kest, cosyn, in thi thog:ht, 

Johne, lo ther thi moder mylde! 
Bio and hlody thus am I bett, 
Swongen with swepys and alle to swett, 

Mankynde, for thi mysdede ; 
For my luf lust when wold thou lett. 
And thi harte sadly sett. 

Sen I thus for the have blede? 
Sich lyf, for sothe , I led that unothes may I more 
This suffre I for thi nede. 
To marke the , man , thi mede : 

Now thyrst I wonder sore. 
Primus Tortor. 
Nog'ht hot hold thi peasse , 
Thou shalle have drynke with in a resse. 

My self shalbe thy knave; 
Have here the draght that I the bete. 
And I shalle warand it is not swete 
On alle the good I have. 

Secundiis Tortor. 
So syr, say now alle youre wille. 
For if ye couthe have balden you stylle 
Ye had not bad this brade. 
Tercius Tor^tor. 
Thou wold alle gaytt be kyng of Jues , 
Bot by this I trow thou rues 

Alle that thou has sayde. 

Quartus Tortor. 
He has hym rused of greatt prophes. 
That he shuld make us tempylles. 

And gar it clene downe falle; 
And yit he sayde he shuld it rase 
As welle as it was within thre dayes , 
He lyes , that wote we alle ; 
And for his lyes in great dispyte 



135 



IS4 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

We willf departe his clothyng- tyte, 
Bot lie can more of arte. 

Primus Tortor. 
Yee, as ever myg^lit I thryfe, 
Soyii wille we this mantyllc ryfe. 

And iehe man take his parte. 

Secundiis Tortor. 
How, wold thou we share this clothe? 

Tercius Tortor. 
IVay forsothe , that were I lothe , 

Then were it alle gate spyltj 
Bot assent thou to my saw. 
Let us alle cutt draw. 

And then is none hegylt. 

Secundiis Tortor. 
How so hefallys now wylle I draw. 
This is myn hy comon law. 
Say not ther agayn. 

Primus Tortor. 
IVow sen it mon no better be , 
Chevithe the with it for me , 

Me thynk thou art full fayne. 

Secundus Tortor. 
How felowse, se ye not yon shraw? 
It is writen yonder within a thraiv, 
Now sen that we drew cut. 

Tercius Tortor. 
There is no man that is on lyfe 
Bot it were Pilate, as mi}»lit I thrife. 
That durst it there have putt. 

Quartus Tortor. 
Go we fast, and let us loke 
What is wretyne on yond boko. 
And >vhat it may bcmyn. 



<:rucifixio. 

Primus Tortor. 
A tbe more I loke theroii, 
A the more I tliynke I fon; 

AUe is not wortbe a beyii. 

Secundus Tortor. 
Yis for sothe, me tliynk I se 
Theroii writeii lang:ag^e thre, 
Ebrew and Latyn, 
And Grew me tbyuk writen tberon , 
For it is bard for to expowne. 

Tercius Tortor. 
Tbou red, by Apollyon! 

Quartiis Tortor. 
Yee, as I am a trew knygbt,* 
I am tbe best Latyn wrygbt 

Of tbis company 5 
I wille go witboutten delay 
And telle you wbat it is to say, 
Bebald, syrs, witterly, 
Yonder is wretyn Jesus of Nazareyn^ 
He is kyng? of Jues, I weyn. 

Primus Tortor. 
A, that is writene wrang\ 

Secundus Tortor. 
He callys bym so, bot be is none. 
Tet^cius Tortor. 
Go Ave to Pilate and make oure mone - 
Have done and dwelle not lang:. 
Pilate, yonder is a fals tabylle, 
Tberon is wryten nogbt bot fabylle;^ 

Of Jues be is not kyng, 
He callys bym so , bot be not is ^ 
It is falsly writen , iwys , 

Tbis is a wrangwys tbyng. 



loo 



136 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Ptlatus. 
Boys , I say what melle ye you ? 
As it is writeii shalle it l)e now, 

I say certaiiie; 
Quod script am scripsi , 
That same wrote I , 

What g^adlyngf g^ruches ther agaiie? 

Qiiartus Tortor. 
Sen that he is a man of law he must nedys have his wille : 
I trow he had not writen that saw without som piopre skylle. 

Primus Tortor. 
Yee 5 let it hang: ahove his hede. 
It shalle not save hym fro the dede, 
Nogfht that he can write. 

Secundus Tortor. 
Now ilia hale was he borne. 

Tercius Tortor. 
Ma i'A , I telle his lyfe is lorne , 
He shalle he slayn as tyte. 
If thou he Crist, as men the calle , 
Com downe cmanj>:es us alle , 

And thole not thise missaes. 

Qiiartus Tortor. 
Yee , and help thi self that we may se , 
And we shalle alle trow in the , 
What soever thou says. 

Primus Tortor. 
He eallys hym self good of my^^^ht, 
Bot I wold se hym he so wi>yht 

To do sichc a dede 5 
He rasyd Lazare out of his delfe, 
Bot he can uot help hym selfc, 
!Vow ill his great nedo. 



CRUCIFIXIO. 137 



Jesus. 
Hely, Hely, lamazabatany! 
My God, uiy God! wherfor and why 
Has tliou forsakyn me? 

Secundus Tortor. 
How, here ye not, as welle as I, 
How he can now on Hely cry 
Apon this wyse? 

Terciiis Tortor. 
Yee, ther is none Hely in this countre 
Shalle delyver hym from this meneye, 
On no kyns wyse. 

Quartus Tortor. 
I warand you now at the last 
That he shalle soyn yelde the gast. 
For brestyn is his g:alle. 
Jesus. 
Now is my passyon broght tylle ende. 
Fader of heven in to thyn hende 
I betake my sauUe ! 

Primus Tortor. 
Let oone pryk hym withe a spere. 
And if that it do hym no dere 

Then is his lyfe nere past. 
Secundus Tortor. 
This blynde knyght may best do that. 

Longeus. 
Gar me not do hot I wote what. 
Tercius Tortor. 
Not but put up fast. 

Longeus 
A! Lord, what may this be? 
Ere was I blynde, now may I se; 
Godes son, here me, Jesu! 
For this trespason me thou rew. 



loa 



MIRACLE -PLAYS. 



For, lord, otlicrc men me {}"art, 
That I the stroke unto the hart, 
I se thou hynges here on hy. 
And dyse to fiilfylle the prophecy. 

Quartus Tortor. 
Go we hens, and leyfe hym here. 
For I shalle he his horghe te yere 

He felys no more payn; 
For Hely ne for none othere man 
Alle the good that ever he wan, , 
Gettes not his lyfe agayne. 

Joseplms. 
Alas, alas, and walaway! 
That ever shiild I ahyde this day 

To se my master dede; 
Thus wykydly as he is shent. 
With so hytter tornamente, 

Thrug-he fals Jues red. 
Nychodeme , I wold we yede 
To sir Pilate, if we mygrht spede 

His hody for to crave; 
I wille fownde with alle my myght. 
For my servyce to ash that hnyght. 
His hody for to grave. 

Nichodemns. 
Josephe, I wille weynde with the 
For to do that is in me , 

For that hody to pray; 
For cure good wille and oure travale 
1 hope that it mon us avaylle 

Here after ward som day. 
Josephus. 
Sir Pilate , God the save ! 
Graunte me tli.it I crave, 

If that it he thi wille. 



CRUCIFIXIO. 159 



PUatus. 

Welcom Josephe myg^bt thou be. 

What so thou askys I g:raunte it the, 

So that it be shy lie. 

Josephus. 

For my long: servyce, I the pray, 
Graunte me the body, say me not nay. 
Of Jesus dede on rud. 

Pilatus. 
I g^raunte welle if he ded be , 
Good leyfe shalle thou have of me , 

Do wyth hym what thou thynk g:ud. 

Josephus. 

Gramercy , sir , of youre good ffrace , 
That ye have graunte me in this place , 

Go we oure way: 
IVychodeme , come me fur the with , 
For I my self shalle be the smythe 
The nales out for to dray. 

Nichodemus. 

Josephe, I am redy here 
To g^o withe the with fuUe good chere , 

To help the at my myght ; 
PuUe furthe the nales on aythere syde. 
And I shalle bald hym up this tyde, 
A , lord , so thou is dig:ht. 

Josephus. 
Help now, felow, with alle thi myg-ht. 
That he were wonden and welle dight. 

And lay hym on this here; 
Bere we hym furthe unto the kyrke, 
To the tombe that I g^ard wyrk. 
Sen fulle many a yere. 



I GO MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Nichodejnus. 
It shalle be so with outteu nay. 
He that dyed on Gud Friday 

And crownyd was withe tliorne 
Save you alle that now here be , 
That Lord that thus wold dee 

And rose on Pasche niorne. 



EXPLICIT CRUCIFIXIO CHRIST!. 



EXTRACTIO ANIMARLM. 161 

EXTRACTIO AMMARUM 
AB IIXFERNO. 



Jesus. 
My fader me from blys lias send 
Tillc erthe for mankyiide sake, 
Adam mys for to amend. 
My detli nede must I take : 
I dwellyd ther thyrty yercs and two. 
And som dele more , the sothe *to say , 
In anji'er , pyne , and mekylle wo , 
I tlyde on cros this day. 
Therfor tille helle now wille I g:o , 
To chalange that is myne, 
Adam 5 Eve , and othere mo , 
Thay shalle no lon(yer dwelle in pyne; 
The feynde theym wan withe trayn, 
Thrng'he fraiide of earthly fode, 
I have theym boght ag:an 
With shedyng' of my Llode. 
And now I wille that stede restore. 
Which e the feynde felle fro for syn , 
Som tokyn wille I send before, 
AVithe myrthe to gar thare gammes l)egyn. 
A light I wille thay have 
To know I wille com sone , 
My body shalle abyde in grave 
Tille alle this dede be done. 

Adam. 
My brether, herkyn unto me here. 
More hope of hclth never we had , 

11 



ii»2 >IIRACLE- PLAYS. 

Four thousaml and six hundred yere 
Have ^ve bene here in darlines stad; 
IVow se I toliyns of solace sere, 
A g'loryous gleme to make us glad, 
"\Vherthrup;hc I hope that help is nere , 
That sone shalle slake oure sorowes sad. 

Eve. 

Adam, my husband heynd. 
This menys solace certan, 
Siche lighte can on us leynd 
In paradyse fulle playn. 

Isaias. 

Adam, thi'ug^h thi syn 
Here were we put to dwelle. 
This wykyd place within , 
The name of it is helle^ 
Here paynes shalle never blyn 
That wykyd ar and felle , 
Love that lord withe wyii 
His lyfe for us wold selle. 

\_Et canient omnes uSalvator mundi ,^ primum versum.j 
Adam, thou welle understand, 
I am Isaias , so Crist me kende , 
I spake of folk in darknes walkand, 
I saide a lij^ht shuld on them lende ; 
This liffht is alle from Crist commande. 
That he tillc us has hedir sende. 
Thus is my poynt proved in hand , 
As I before to fold it kende. 

Simeon. 

So may I telle of farlys feylle , 
For in the tempylle his freyndes me fande. 
Me tho(yht dayntcthe with hym to deylle, 
I halsyd hym homely with my hand, 
I saide. Lord, let thi servandes leylle 
Pr>s in persse to lyf lastande , 



KXTRACTIO ANIMARUM. ' 165 

Now that myn eeyii has sene thyii hele 

No longer lyst I lyf in lande. 

This light thou has purvayde 

For theym that lyf in lede , 

That I hefore of the have saide 

I se it is fulfillyd in dede. 

Johannes Baptista. 

As a voice cryand I kend 
The wayes of Crist, as I welle can, 
I baptisid hym vrith bothe myn hende 
In the water of flume Jordan ; 
The Holy Gost from heven discende 
As a white dowfe downe on me than , 
The Fader voyce oure myrthes to amende 
Was made to me lyhe as a man; 
«Yond is my son," he saide, 
..And whiche pleasses me fuUe welle," 
His light is on us layde. 
And commys oure karys to kele. 

Moyses. 

Now this same nyght lernyng have I , 
To me , Moyses , he shewid his myght , 
And also to another oone, Hely, 
Where we stud on a hille on hyght, 
As whyte as snaw was his body. 
His face was like the son for bright. 
No man on mold was so mighty 
Grathly durst loke agans that light. 
And that same lighte here se I now 
Shynyng on us , certayn , 
Where thrughe truly I trow 
That we shalle sone pas fro this payn 

Ryhald. 

Sen fyrst that helle was mayde and I was put therin 
Siche sorow never ere I had, nor hard I siche a dyn, 

ir 



iC4 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

My hart bojvynnys to l)rade5 my ^^'ytt waxys thyii, 
I (Irede avc can not l>c glad, tbise sanies mon fro us twyn; 
How, Bclsahul)! bynde tbisc boys, sicbe barow was never 
bard in belle. 

Belznhuh. 
Out, Rybald! tbou rores, wbatisbetyd? cantbou ogbt telle? 

Rxjhald. 
Wbi, berys tbou not Ibis ugly noyse? 
Tbise lurdans tbat in lynibo dwelle , 
Tbey make menyng: of many joyse , 
And muster myrtbes tbeym emelle. 

Belzahuh. 
Myi'tb? nay, nay! tbat poynt is past. 
More bope of beltbe sballe tbey never bave. 

Rijhald. 

Tbat cry on Crist fuUe fast. 
And says be sballe tbaym save. 

Belzahuh. 

Yee, tbougb be do not, I sballe. 
For tbay ar sparyd in specyalle space, 
Wbils I am prynce and pryncypalle , 
Tbay sballe never pas out of this place; 
Calle up Astarot and Anabatic, 
To gyf us counselle in tbis case; 
Telle Bcritb and Bcllyalle 
To mar tbeym tbat sicbe mastry masc ; 
Say to sir Satan oure syre. 
And byd bym bryng: also 
Sir Lucyfer lufly of lyre. 

Rijhald. 
Alle redy, lord, I go. 

Jesus. 
Attolite port as ^ priucipes , vestras el ele\>amini porlm wter- 
nalcs, ct introihit rex gloria'. 



EXTRACTIO ANIMARUM. 16t5 



Ryhald. 
Out, harro, out! what deville is he 
That callys hym hyng: over us alle? 
Hark Belzahuh , com ne , 
For hedusly I hard hym calle. 

Belzahub. 
Go spar the yates, ylle mot thou the! 
And set the waches on the walle , 
If that hrodelle com ne 
With us ay won he shalle; 
And if he more calle or cry , 
To make us more dehate. 
Lay on hym hardely , 
And make hym g:o his gate. 

David. 
Nay, withe hym may ye not fyght, 
For he is king: and conquer our e , 
And of so mekille myght. 
And styf in every stourej 
Of hym commys alle this light 
That shynys in this howre; 
He is fuUe fers in %ht, 
Worthi to wyn honoure. 

Belzahuh. 
Honoure! harsto, harlot, for what dedc 
Alle erthly men to me ar thralle. 
That lad that thou callys lord in lede 
He had never harhor, house, ne halle; 
How, sir Sathanas, com nar 
And hark this cursid rowte! 

Sathanas. 
The dewille you alle to har! 
What ales the so to showte ? 
And me , if I com nar , 
Thy hrayn hot I hryst owte. 



166 MIIlAt.Lt -PI.IYS. 

Belzabub. 

Thou must com help to spar. 
We ar beseged abowte. 

Sathanas. 

Beseg-yd aboute! whi, who durst be so bold 
For drede to make on us a fray? 

Belzabub. 

It is the Jew that Judas sold 
For to be dede this othere day. 

Sathanas. 

How, in tyme that tale was told, 
That tratui-e travesses us alle way; 
He shalle be here fuUe hard iu hold, 
Bot loke he pas not I the pray. 

Belzabub. 

Pas ! nay , nay , he wille not weynde 
From hens or it be war, 
He shapys hym for to sheynd 
Alle belle or he go far. 

Sathanas. 

Fy, fature, therof shalle he faylle. 
For alle his fare I hym defy; 
I know his trantes fro top to taylle. 
He lyffes by gawdes and glory. 
Therby he brogrht furthe of oure baylle 
The lathe Lazare of Betany , 
Bot to the Jues I gaf counsaylle 
That thay shuld cause hym dy: 
I entered there into Judas 
That forward to fulfylle, 
Therfor his hyere he has 
Alle wayes to won here sty lie. 

Rybald. 

Sir Sathan, sen we here the say 
Thou and the Jues were at assent , 



EXTRAOTIO ANIMARUM. 167 



And wote he wan the Lazare away 
That unto us was taken to tent, 
Hopys thou that thou mar hym may 
To muster the malyce that he has ment? 
For and he refe us now oure pray 
We wille ye witt or he is ^vent. 
Sathanas. 

I hyd the uogfht ahaste 
Bot holdly make you howne, 
Withe toyles that ye intraste, 
And dyng: that dastard downe. 

Jesus. 

Attolite portas principes vestras , etc, 
Ryhald. 

Outt, harro! what harlot is he 
That says his kyng:dom shalhe cryde? 

David. 

That may thou in sawter se. 
For of this prynce thus ere I saidej 
I saide that he shuld hreke 
Youre harres and handes hy name. 
And of youre warkes take wreke; 
IVow shalle thou se the same. 

Jesus. 

Ye prynces of helle open youre yate. 
And let my folk furthe g:one , 
A prynce of peasse shalle enter therat 
W^heder ye wille or none. 

Ryhald. 
What art thou that spekys so? 

Jesus, 
A kyng: of hlys that hig^ht Jesus. 

Ryhald. 
Yee , hens fast I red thou f>:o , 
And melle the not with us. 



IG8 MIRACLE- PLAYvS. 

lielzabub. 
Ourc yates I trow >ville last, 
Tli.iy ar so strong I weyii , 
Bot if ourc harres l)rast 
For the thay shall e not twyn. 

Jesus. 
This stedc shalle stande no lonjfcr stokyn 
Open up and let my pepillc pas. 

Ryhald. 
Out 5 harro ! oure baylle is Ijrokyn , 
And hrusten ar alle oure bandes of hras. 

Belzabuh. 
Harro ! oure yates heg:yn to crah , 
In sonder, I trow, thay g^o , 
And helle, I trow, wille all to shak ; 
Alas, what I am wo! 

Ryhald. 
Lymho is lorn, alas! ^ 

Sii" Sathanas com up ; 
This wark is wars then it was. 

Sathanas. 
Yee, hangyd he thou on a cruke, 
Thefys, I had ye shuld he howne 
If he maide mastres more 
To dyng: that dastard dowiie. 
Sett hym hothe sad and sore. 

Belzabuh. 
So sett hym sore that is sone saide. 
Com thou thi self and serve hym so ; 
We may not ahyde his hytter hrayde. 
He wold us mar and avc were mo. 

Sathanas. 
Fy , fature ! ^vherfor were ye flayd ? 
Have ye no force to ilyt hym fro? 
Loke in haste my jjere he {»rayd. 
My self slialle to tliaf j»a<llynj» j»o. 



EXTR ACTIO ANIMAIUJM. 169 

How, tlioii belamy, abyde. 
Withe alle thi boste and beyr. 
And telle me in this tyde 
What mastres thou makes here. 

Jesus. 

I make no mastry hot for myne , 
I wille theym save , that shalle the sow . 
Thou has no powere theym to pyne , 
Bot in my pryson for thare prow 
Here have thay sojornyd , not as thyne , 
Bot in thi waryd , thou wote as how. 
Sathanas. 

Why-, where has thou bene ay syn 
That never wold neghe theym nere or now? 

Jesus. 

Now is the tyme certan 
My Fader ordand herfor. 
That they shuld pas fro payn 
In blys to dwelle for ever more. 
Sathanas. 

Thy fader knew I welle by syght. 
He was a wrio-ht his meett to wyn, 
Mary me mynnys thi moder hight. 
The utmast ende of alle thy kyn. 
Say who made the so mekille of myght ? 

Jesus. 

Thou T^^kyd feynde lett be thi dy[n]5 
My Fader wonnes in heven on bight , 
In blys that never more shalle blyn : 
I am his oonly son his forward to fulfylle, 
Togeder wille we won in sonder when we Tvylle. 
Sathanas. 

Goddes sonT nay then myght thou be glad 
For no catelle thurt the crave ; 
Bot thou has lyffed ay iyke a lad. 
In sorow , and as a sympille knave. 



170 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Jesus. 

That was for the hartly luf I had 
Unto man's saiille it forto save, 
And forto make the masyd and mad. 
And for that reson riifully to rafe. 
My Godhede here I hyd 
In Mary, moder myne. 
Where it shalle never be kyd 
To the ne none of thyne. 

Sathanas. 

How now ? this wold I were told in towne , 
Thou says God is thi syre ; 
I shalle the prove hy g-ood reson 
Thou moyttes as man dos into myre. 
To hreke thi byddyng: they were fuUe bowne. 
And soyn they wroght at my desyre , 
From paradise thou putt theym downe. 
In helle here to have thare byre ; 
And thou thi self, by day and nyght, 
Taght ever alle men emang:. 
Ever to do reson and right. 
And here thou wyrkys alle wrang^. 

Jesus, 
I wyrk no wrang-, that shalle thou wytt. 
If I my men fro wo wille wyn; 
My prophettes playnly prechyd it , 
Alle the noytes that I begyn ; 
They saide that I shuld be that ilke 
In helle where I shuld entrc in, 
To save my servandes fro that pytt 
Where dampnyd saullys shalle syt for syn. 
And ilke true prophete taylle 
Shalle l>e fulfillid in me ; 
I have thaym boght fro baylle, 
In blis now shalle thay be. 



EXTRACTIO AIXIMARUM. 171 

Sathanas. 

IVow sen thou lyst to leg^g:e the lawes 
Thou shalbe tenyd or we twyn. 
For those that thou to witnes drawes 
FuUe even ag:ans the shalle hegiyn; 
As Salaman saide in his sawes , 
Who that ones commys helle within 
He shalle never owte, as clerkes knawes, 
Therfor, belamy, let be thy dyn. 
Job thi servande also 
In his tyme can telle 
That nawder freynde nor fo 
Shalle fynde relese in helle. 

Jesus. 

He sayde fuUe soythe, that shalle thou se, 
In helle shalbe no relese, 
Bot of that place then ment he 
Where synfuUe care shalle ever encrese. 
In that baylle ay shalle thou be, 
W^here sorowes seyr shalle never sesse. 
And my folk that wer most fre 
Shalle pas unto the place of peasse; 
For thay were here with my wille. 
And so thay shalle furthe weynde , 
Thou shalle thi self fulfylle , 
Ever wo withoutten ende. 

Sathanas. 

Whi, and wille thou take theym alle me fro? 
Then thynk me thou ar unkynde ; 
Nay , I pray the do not so , 
Umthynke the better in thy mynde, 
Or els let me with the g:o; 
I pray the leyfe nae not behynde. 

Jesus. 

Nay, tratur, thou shalle won in wo, 
And tille a stake I shalle the bynde. 



172 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Sathanas. 

INo^v here I liow thou menys emang: 
With incsiue and malyce for to inelle, 
Bot sen thou says it shalhe laii(>', 
Yit som let alle wayes with us dwell e. 

Jesus. 

Yis, witt thou welle, els were ^rcatt wrano , 
Thou shalle have Cayin that slo Ahelle, 
And alle that hastes theym self to hang:, 
As dyd Judas and Architophellc 5 
And Daton and Aharon and alle of thare assent, 
Cursyd tyrant tes ever ilkon that me and myn tormente. 
And alle that wille not lere my law 
That I have left in land for new 
That makes my commyng: knaw. 
And alle my sacramentes persew; 
My detli, my rysyng-, red hy raw. 
Who trow thaym not thay ar untrewe, 
Unto my dome I shalle theym draw. 
And juge thaym wars then any Jew. 
And thay that lyst to lere my law and lyf therhy 
Shalle never have harmes here, bot welth as is worthy. 

Sathanas, 

Now here my hand, I hold me payde, 
Thise poyntes ar playnly for my prow, 
If this be trew as thou has saide 
W^e shalle have mo then we have now ; 
Thise lawes that thou has late here laide 
I shalle theym lere not to alo^v. 
If thay myu take thay ar betraide. 
And I shalle turne theym tytte I trow. 
I slialle walk eest, I shalle walk west, 
And gar tlieym wyrk welle war. 

Jesus. 

IVay Ceynde, thou shalbe fesle, 
Hial tliou shalle /lyt no far. 



EXTRACTIO ANIMARUM. 475 

Sathanas. 
Festc? fy! tliat were a wykytl treson! 
Belamy , thou sballe he smytt. 

Jesus. 
Devilie , I eomm amide the to go downe 
Into thi sete where thou shall e syt. 
Sathanas, 
Alas! for doylle and care 
I synk into lielle pyt. 

Ryhald. 
Sir Sathanas , so saide I are , 
Now shalle thou have a fytt. 

Jesus. 
Com now furthe my childer alle, 
I forgyf you youre mys; 
Withe me now go ye shalle 
To joy and endles hlys. 

Adam. 
Lord, thou art fuUe mehylle of myght, 
That mekys thi self on this manere. 
To help us alle as thou had us hight. 
When hothe forfett I and my fere. 
Here have we dwelt without ten light 
Four thousand and six hundreth yerc, 
]Vow se we by this solempne sight 
How that mercy makes us dere. 

Eva. 
Lord, we were worthy more tornamentes to tast. 
Thou help us lord of thy mercy , as thou of myght is mast. 
Johannes. 
Lord , I love the inwardly , 
That me wold make thi messyngere, 
Thi commyng in erthe to cry , 
And teche thi fayth to folk in fere 5 
Sythen before the forto dy. 
To bryng theym bodword that be here. 



174 



MIllACLE - PLAYS. 



How lliay shuld have thi help in hy, 
IVow se I allc those poyntes appere. 

3IoyS€S. 
David, thi prophettc trew. 
Of tymes told unto us; 
Of thi commyng: he knew. 
And saide it shuld he thus. 

David, 

As I saide ere yit say I so, 
Ne derelinquas , domine , 
Animam ineani in inferno; 
Leyfe never my sauUe, Lord, after the. 
In depe helle whedur danipned shalle go , 
Suffre thou never thi sayntes to se 
The sorow of thaym that won in wo, 
Ay fulle of fylthe and may not fle. 

Moyses. 

Make myrthe hothe more and les , 
And love oure lord we may. 
That has hroght us fro bytternes 
In blys to ahyde for ay. 

Ysaias. 

Therfor now let us syng: 
To love oure lord Jesus, 
Unto his blys he wllle us bryng-, 
7e Deum laudamus. 



EXPtlCIT EXTRACTIO ANIMARUN AB IIVFERiVO. 



JUDITIUM. 175 



JUDITIUM. 



FuUe darfe has bene oure dede, for thi eommeii is oure care. 
This day to take oure mede, for nothyng: may we spare. 
Alas! I harde that home that callys us to the dome, 
Alle that ever were borne thider behofys theym com; 
May nathere land ne se us fro this dome hide. 
For ferde fayn wold I fie, hot I must nedes abide; 
Alas! I stand g:reat ag:he to loke on that Justyce, 
Ther may no man of laghe help with no quantyce. 
Vokettys ten or twelfe may none help at this nede, 
Bot ilk man for his self shalle answere for his dede. 
Alas , that I was borne ! 
I se now me beforne. 

That Lord with woundes fyfe ; 
How may I on hym loke , 
That falsly hym forsoke. 

When I led synfuUe lyfe ? 
Tercius Mains. 
Alas! carefuUe catyfes may we ryse. 
Sore may we wryng: oure handes and wepe, 
For cursid and sore covytyse 
Dampnyd be we in belle fuUe depe; 
Wrog'ht we never of Godes servyce. 
His comaundements wold we not kepe, 
Bot oft tymes maide we sacrifice 
To Sathanas when othere can slepe. 
Alas! now wakyns alle oure were, 
Oure wykyd warkes can we not hide, 
Bot on oure bakes we must theym here, 
That wille us soroo on ilka syde. 



170 



MIIIACM: - l»L\YS. 



Cure ilodys this day Avillc do us dcre. 
Cure domys man hero we must abide , 
And foyndes, that wllle us felly fere, 
Thare pray to have us for thare pride. 
Brymly before us be thai broght, 
Oure dcdes that shalle dam us bidene 5 
That eyre has harde, or harte thoght, 
That mowthe has spokyu, or ee sene. 
That foote has gone, or hande wroght, 
In any tyme that we may mene, 
FuUe dere this day now bees it boght. 
Alas 5 unborne then had I bene ! 

Quartiis Mains. 
Alas, I am forlorne! a spytus blast here blawes, 
I harde welle hi yonde home, I wote wherto it drawes; 
I wold I were unborne, alas! that this day dawes , 
]\ow mon be dampnyd this morne my warkys, my dedcs, 

my sawes. 
Now bees my curstnes kyd, alas! I may not layn 
Alle that ever I dyd , it bees put up fulle playn. 
That I wold fayn were hyd , my synfulle wordes and vayn 
Fulle new now mon be rekyuyd up to me agayn. 
Alas! fayn wold I fle for dedes that I have done, 
Bot that may now not be, I must abydc my boyn, 
I trowed never to have sene this dredfulle day thus soyn; 
Alas! what shalle I say when he sittes on his trone ? 
To se his woundes bledande this is a dulfuUe case , 
Alas! how shalle I stand or loke hym in the face. 
So curtes I hym fand that gaf me life so laug a space. 
Mi care is alle command, alas! Avhere was my grace? 
Alas! catyffes unkynde, where on was oure thoglit? 
Alas! where on was oure mynde, so wykyd warkes we wroghte? 
To se how he was pynde, how dere oure luf he boght, 
Alas! we were fulle blynde, now ar we wars then noght. 
Alas! my covelyse, myne ylle wille, and myn ire, 
Mi iieghbur to dispise most was my desyrc ; 



JUDITIUM. 177 

I demyd ever at my devyse , me thog:ht I had no peyre , 
With my self sore may I grise, now am <juyt my hyre. 
Where I was wonte to g:o and have my wordes at wille, 
Now am I set fuUe thro and fayn to hold me stille; 
I went hoth to and fro, me thoght I did never ille. 
Mi neg:hburs for to slo or hurt withoutten shille. 
W^o worthe ever the fader that gate me to be borne! 
That ever he let me stir hot that I had bene forlorne; 
W^arid be my moder, and warid be the morne 
That I was borne of hir , alas , for shame and skorne ! 
Primus jingelus ^ cum gladio. 

Stand not togreder, parte in two, 
AUe sam shalle ye not be in blys. 
Cure lord of heven wille it be so, 
For many of you has done amy«5 
On his right hand ye good shalle go, 
The way to heven he shalle you wys ; 
Ye wykid saules ye weynd hym fro. 
On his left hande as none of his. 

Jesus. 

The tyme is eommen, I wille make ende. 
My Fader of heven wille it so be , 
Therfor tille erthe now wille I weynde , 
My selfe to sytt in majestie; 
To dele my dome I wille discende. 
This body wille I here with me. 
How it was dight man's mys to amende 
Alle man's kynde ther shalle it se. 

Primus Daemon. 

Oute, haro, out, out! harkyn to this borne, 
I was never in dowte or now at this morne , 
So sturdy a showte sen that I was borne 
Hard I never here abowte, in erneste ne in skorne. 

A wonder; 
I was bonde fulle fast 
In yrens for to last, 

12 



178 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Bot my bantlcs Ibai l)rast 

And slioke alle in sender. 

Seciindus Dcemon. 
I sliotcrtie and sholxc, I herd sielie a rerd , 
When I harde it I cfwohe for alle that I lerd, 
Bot to swere on a boke I durst not aperd , 
I durst not lohe for alle medille erd 

Fulle paylle ; 
Bot gyrned and g^nast. 
My force did I frast, 
Bot I wrog'hte alle wast. 

It myg:hte not avaylle. 

Primus Dcemon. 
It was like to a trumpe, it had sieh a sownde, 
I felle on a lumpe for ferd that I swonde. 
Secundiis Dcemon. 
There I stode on my stumpe I stakerd that stownde. 
There chachid I the crump e , yit held I my grounde 
Halfe nome. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Make- redy oure g-ere , 
We ar like to have were. 
For now dar I swere 

That domysday is comme; 
For alle oure saules ar wente and none ar in helle. 
Secundus Dcemon. 
Bot we go we ar shentc, let us not dwelle , 
It sittes you to tente in this mater to melle. 
As a pere in a parlamente what case so befellc; 

It is nedefulle 
That ye tente to youre awne, 
What draght so he drawne , 
If the courte be knawen 

The juge is right dredfulle. 
Primus Dcemon. 
For to slande this tome thou gars me grete. 



JUDITICM, 179 

Secundus Dcemon, 
Let us g:o to this dome up Watlyn Strete. 

Primus Dcemon. 
I had lever g:o to Rome; yei thryse on my fete. 
Then forto g:refe yonde grome, or with hym for to mete; 

For wysely 
He spehys on trete. 
His paustee is g:rete, 
Bot beg:yn he to threte 

He lokes fulle gfrisly: 
Bot fast take oure rentals, hy, let us go hence! 
For as this fals the g:reat sentence. 

Secundus Dcenwn, 
Thai ar here in my dais , fa«t stand we to fence , 
Agans thise dampnyd saules without repentence , 
And just. 

Primus Dcemon, 
How so the gam crokys, 
Examyn oure bokys. 

Secundus Dcemon. 
Here is a bag fulle, lokys. 

Of pride and of lust. 
Of wraggers and wrears, a bag fulle of brefes, 
Of carpars and cryars, of mychers and thefes. 
Of lurdans and lyars that no man lefys , 
Of fly tars , of flyars , and render ars of refifys , 

This can I, 
Of alkyn astates 
That go hi the gatys. 
Of poore pride , that God hates , 

Twenty so many. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Peasse, I pray the, be stille, I laghe that I kynke, 
Is oghte ire in thi bille and then shalle thou drynke ? 

12* 



180 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Secundus Deenion. 
Sir, so mclxille ille wille that thay wold synke 
Tliare foes in a fycrc stille; hot not alle that I thynke 

Dar I say, 
Bot before hym he prase hym^ 
Bchyntle he myssase hjin. 
Thus dowhillc he mase hym, 
Thus do thai today. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Has thou oght writen there of the femynyn gender? 

Secundus Dwmoti. 
Yei , mo then I may here of rolles forto render ; 
Thai ar sharp as a spere if thai seme hot slender. 
Thai ar ever in were if thai he tender, 

Ylle fetyld^ 
She that is most meke , 
When she semys fulle seke. 
She can raise up a reke 

If she he welle netyld. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Thou art the best hyne that ever cam besyde us. 

Secundus Dcemon. 
Yei bot go we, master myne, yet wold I we hyde us. 
Thai have blowen lang syne, thai wille not abide us, 
We may lightly tyne, and then wille ye chide us 
Togeder. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Make redy oure tolys, 
For we dele with no folys. 

Secundus Dcemon. 
Sir, alle clerkys of oure scolys 
Abowne furthe theder; 
Bot, sir, I telle you before had domysday oght tarid 
We must have biggid belle more, the warld is so warid. 



JfUDITIUM. 181 

Primus Dcemon. 
Now gett we dowbille store of bodys myscarid 
To the soules where thai wore, bothe sam to be harrid. 
Secundus Dcemon, 
Thise rolles 
Ar of bakbytars , 
And fals quest dytars, 
I had no help of writars 

Bot thise two dalles ; 
Faithe and trowthe, maffay, have no fete to stande , 
The poore pepylle must pay if ojyht be in hande , 
The drede of God is away and lawe out of lande. 
Primus Dcemon. 
By that wist I that domysday was at hande 
In seson. 

Secundus Dcemon. 
Sir 5 it is saide in old sawes , 
The longere that day dawes , 
Wars pepille , wars lawes. 

Primus Deem on . 
I laghe at thi reson; 
Alle this was token domysday to drede , 
Fulle oft was it spokyn , fulle few take hede , 
Bot now shalle we be wrokyn of thare falshede. 
For now bese unlokyn many dern dede 

In ire; 
Alle thare synnes shalle be knowen , 
Othere men's, then thare owne. 

Secundus Dcemon. 
Bot if this draght be welle drawen 
Don is in the myre. 

Tutivillus. 
Whi spyr ye not syr no cpiestyons? 
I am oone of youre order and oone of your sons; 
I stande at my tristur when othere men shones. 



188 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Primus Dcetnon. 
IVow thou art myn awne querestur, 
I wotc where thou wonnes; 
Do telle me. 

Tutivillus. 
I was youre chefe tollare. 
And sithen courte rollar. 
Now am I master Lollar, 

And of sieh men I melle me; 
I have brog:ht to youre hande of saules, dar I say. 
Mo than ten thowsand in an howre of a day ; 
Som at aylle howse I fande, and som of ferray, 
Som eursid, som hande, som yei som nay; 

So many 
Thus broght I on blure. 
Thus dyd I my cure. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Thou art the best sawg^eoure 
That ever had I any. 

Tutivillus. 
Here a roUe of rag:man of the rownde tabille , 
Of breflPes in my bag:, man, of synnes dampnabille, 
Unethes may I wag:, man, for wery in youre stabille 
Whils I set my stag, man. 

Secundus Dcemon. 

Abide, ye ar abille. 
To take wage; 
Thow can of cowrte thew, 
Bot lay downe the dewe 
For thou wille be a shrew. 

Be thou com at ag-e. 

Tutivillus. 
Here I be gesse of many nyce hoket, 
Of care and of curstnes, hethyng and hoket. 
Gay (yere and witles, his bode set on koket. 
As prowde as pennyles, his slefe has no poket. 



juDiTitntf. 1 83 

Fiille redlesf 
With thare hemmyd slioyii, 
AUc this must be done , 
Bot fyre is out at hye noyne 

And his barnes bredeles. 
A home and a duch ax, his slefe must be flekyt, 
A syde hede and a fare fax, his gowne must be spekytt. 
Thus toke I youre tax, thus ar my bokys blekyt. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Thou art best on thi wax that ever was clekyt. 
Or knowen; 
With wordes wille thou iille us, 
Bot telle thi name title us. 

Tutivillus. 
My name is Tutivillus, 

My home is blawenj 
Fragmma verborum Tiitivilliis colligit Jioriim, 
Belzahuh algorum, Belial helium doliorum. 

Secundus Dcemon. 
W^hat, I se thou can of gramory and som what of arte; 
Had I bot a penny on the wold I warte. 

Tutivillus. 
Of femellys a quantJte here fynde I parte. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Tutivillus, let se , Godes forbot thou sparte! 
Tutivillus. 
So joly. 
Ilka las in a lande , 
Like a lady nere hande , 
So freshe and so plesande. 

Makes men to foly. 
If she be never so fowlle a dowde , with hir kelles and hir 

pynnes. 
The shrew hir self can shrowde, both hir chekys and hir 
chynnes - 



184 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

She can make it fiille prowde with japes and with gynnes, 
Hir hede as hy as a clowde, hot no shame of hir synnes 

Thai fele 5 
When she is thus paynt. 
She makes it so quaynte. 
She lokes like a saynt, 

And wars then the deyle. 

She is hornyd like a kowe fon syn, 

The cuker hynges so side now, furrid with a cat skyn, 
Aile thise ar for you, thay ar coumien of youre kyn. 
Secimdus Dcemon. 
Now, the hest hody art thou that ever cam here in. 
TutivUlus. 
An usag-e , 
Swilk dar I undertake. 
Makes theym hreke thare wedlake. 
And lif in syn for hir sake. 

And hreke thare awne spowsage. 
Yet a poynt have I fon, I telle you hefore. 
That fals swerers shalle hider com mo than a thowsand 

skore 5 
lu sweryng: thai grefe Codes son, and pyne hym more and 

more, 
Therfor mon thai with us won in helle for ever more. 

I say thus , 
That rasers of the fals tax. 
And g-ederars of greyu wax, 
Diahohis est mendax 

Et pater ejus. 
Yit a poynte of the new gett to telle willc I not hlyn. 
Of prankyd gownes and shulders up set, mos .lud flokkes 

sewyd wyth in. 
To use siche gise thai wille not let , thai say it is no syn , 
Bot on sich pilus I me set and clap thaym chcke and chyn, 

IVo nay. 
David in his sawterc says thus, 



JUDITIUM. 18S 

That to helle shalle thay trus. 
Cum suis adinventionibus , 

For onys and for ay. 
Yit of thise kyrkchaterars here ar a meiiee , 
Of barg:anars and okerars and lufars of symonee. 
Of rimkers and rowners , God castes thaym out trulee 
From his temple alle sich mysdoers , I each thaym then 
to me 

Fulle soyn; 
For writen I wote it is 
In the Gospelle, withoutten mys, 
JEt earn fecistis 

Speluncam latronum. 
Yit of the synnes seven som thyng: specialle 
Now nately to neven , that ronnys over alle , 
Thise laddes thai leven as lordes rialle. 
At ee to be even picturde yn palle 

As kyng-es; 
May he dug: liym a doket, 
A kodpese like a pokett, 
Hym thynk it no hoket 

His taylle when he wryngres. 
His luddokkys thai lowke like walk mylue clogges 
His hede is like a stowke , hurlyd as hog:g:es , 
A welle blawen howke thise frygges as frogg'es , 
This jelian jowke dryfys he no dogges 

To felter, 
Bot with youi'e yolow lokkys. 
For alle youre many mokkes. 
Ye shalle clym on helle crokkys 

With a halpeny heltere. 
And Nelle with hir nyfyls of crisp and of sylke. 
Tent welle youre twyfyls your nek ahowte as mylke. 
With your hendys and youre hridyls of Sathan the whilke. 
Sir Sathanas idyls you for tha ilke 



1 80 



AIIIl\CLE-PLA.\S. 



This g'ille knave , 
It is open l)ehynde , 
Before Is it pynde , 
Bewar of the west wynde 

Yoiire smok lest it wafe. 
Of ire and of envy fynde I herto. 
Of eovetyse and glotony and many other mo , 
Thai calle and thai cry i(g:o we now, go, 
I dy nere for diy," and ther syt thai so 

All nyghte, 
^Vith hawvelle and jawvelle, 
Syngyng: of lawvelle, 
Tliise ar howndes of helle. 

That is thare right. 
In slewthe then thai syn , Goddes warkes thai not >5yrke , 
To Lelke thai hegyn and spew that is irkc , 
His hede must he holdyn ther in the myrke , 
Then deffes hym with dyn the liellys of the kyrke 

When thai clatter; 
He wishys the clerke hanged 
For that he rang* it , 
Bot thar hym not lang it. 

What commys ther after. 
And ye Janettes of the stewys ; and lychoures on lofte 
Your bailie now hrewys, avowtrees fuUe ofte, 
Youre gam now grewjs, I shalle you set softc, 
Your sorow enewes , com to my crofte 

Alle ye; 
Alle harlottes and liorres , 
And bawdes that procures , 
To bryug tliaym to lures , 

Wei com to my see. 
Ye lurdnns and lyars , mychers and thefcs, 
Flytars and flyars that alle men reprefes, 
Spolars , extorcyonars , welcom, my Icfes! 
Fals jurors and usurars to symony that (Hevys. 



.nDiTiiM. 187 

To telle, 
Hasardars and dysars, 
Fals dedes forgiars, 
Slanderars , bakbytars , 

Alle unto belle. 

Primus Dcemon. 
When I liarde many swilke , many spytiis and felle , 
And few g:ood of ilke I had mervelle, 
I trowid it drew nere the piik. 

Seciuidus Dcemon. 

Sir, a worde of comiselle; 
Saules cam so thyk now late unto belle 

As ever, 
Oiire porter at belle gate 
Is balden so strate , 
Up erly and downe late. 
He rystys never. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Thou art pereles of tho that ever yit knew I, 
When I wille may I go if thou be by; 
Go we now, we two. 

Secundus Dcemon. 

Sir, I am redy. 
Primus Dcemon. 
Take oure rolles also , ye knaue the cause why , 
Do com 
And tent welle this day. 

Secundus Dcemon. 
Sir, as welle as I may. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Qui vero mala 

Secundus Dcemon. 
In ignem ceternum. 

Jesus. 
Ilka creatoure take tente 
What bodwarde I shalle you bryng. 



188 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

This wykytl warld away is wciite , 

And I am coinmen as crownyd l^yn^v; 

My fader of heven has me dowiie sent. 

To dcme yoiire dedes and make endyng:; 

Commen is the day of Jiiffemente , 

Of sorow may every synfulle syng". 

The day is commen of catyfnes, 

AUe those to care that ar uncleyn. 

The day of hatelle and hitternes, 
Fulle long: abiden has it heyn; 

The day of drede to more and les , 
Of joy 5 of tremlyng: and of teyn , 
Ilka wight that wykyd is 
May say, alas this day is seyn ! 

[Tunc expandit manus suas et oslendit cis viilnera sua 
Here may ye se my woundes wide 
That I suffred for youre mysdede, 
Thrug:he harte . hede, fote, hande and syde. 
Not for my g:ilte hot for youre nede. 
Behald both bak, body, and syde. 
How dere I bog^ht youre broder hede, 
Thise bitter paynes I wold abide , 
To by you blys thus wold I ]>lcde. 
Mi body was skowrgid withoutten skille, 
Also thcr fulle throly was I thrett. 
On crosse thai hang: me on a hille , 
Bio and blody thus was I belt. 
With crowne of thorne thrastyn fulle ille, 
A spere unto my harte thai sett. 
Mi harte blode sparid thai not to spille , 
Man, for thi luf wold I not lett. 
The Jucs spytt on me spitusly. 
Thai sparid me no more then a thefe, 
When thai me smote I stud stilly, 
Agfaus thaym did I nokyns grcfc. 
Deholde , mankynde , this ilke am I , 



JUDITIUM. 189 

That for tlie suflfred sicli myschefe , 
Thus was I dig:ht for thi foly, 
Man, loke thi luf was me fulle lefe. 
Thus was I dig^ht thi sorow to slake , 
Man, thus behoyid the horud to he, 
In alle my wo tooke I no wrake , 
My wille it was for luf of the; 
Man, for sorow aght the to qwake, 
This dredful day this sight to se , 
Alle this suifred I for thi sake. 
Say, man, what suffred thou for me? 

\_Tunc verlens sc ad honos , dicit illis , — 

Mi blessid barnes on my rig:ht hande, 
Youre dome this day thar ye not drede. 
For alle youre joy is now command e , 
Youre life in lykyng: shalle ye lede; 
Commes to the kyngdom ay lastand. 
That you is dight for youre good dede, 
Fulle hlithe may ye he there ye stand, 
For mekille in heven bees youre mede. 
When I was hungre ye me fed. 
To slek my thrist ye war fulle fre. 
When I was clothles ye me cled. 
Ye wold no sorowe on me se; 
In hard prison when I was sted 
On my penance ye had pyte, 
Fulle seke when I was broght in bed 
Kyndly ye cam to comforth me. 
When I was wille and weriest 
Ye harberd me fulle esely, 
Fulle glad then were ye of youre gest. 
Ye plenyd my poverte fnlle pitusly; 
Belife ye brog:ht me of the best. 
And maide my bed there I shuld ly, 
Therfor in heven shalle be youre rest. 
In joy and blys to held me by. 



190 



MIRACLE -PLAYS. 



Primus Sonus. 

Lord, when hail thou so mekille iiede? 
IIiin(>re or thriisty how myp/ht it he? 
Secundus Bonus. 

When was oure harte fre the to feede? 
In prison when myght we the se? 

Tercius Bonus. 

AVhen was thou seke or wantyd wede? 
To harhowre the when helpid we? 

Quartus Bonus. 

When had thou nede of oure fordede ? 
AVhen did we alle this dede for the? 

Jesus. 

Mi hlissid harnes, I shalle you say 
What tyme this dede was to me done, 
AVhen any that nede had nyoht or day, 
Ashyd you help and had it sone; 
Youre fre harte saide theym never nay, 
Erly ne late, myd day ne noyn. 
As ofte sithes as thai wold pray. 
Thai thurte hot aske and have thare hoyn. 

\_Tmic dicet nmlis. 
Ye cursid catyfs of Karnes kyn. 
That never me comforthid in my care , 
Now I and ye for ever shalle twyn , 
In doylle to dwelle for ever mare; 
Yoiu'e hitter hayles shalle never hlyn 
That ye shall thole when ye com thare; 
Thus have ye servyd for youre syn. 
For derfe dedes ye have doyn are. 
When I had myster of mete and drynke , 
Catyfs, ye chaste me from youre yate, 
Wlien ye were set as syres on hynkc 
I stode fher oute wery and wate. 
Yet none of you wold on me thynke, 
To have pite on my poore astate. 



JUDITIUM. 191 



Therfor to telle I slialle you synke , 
Welle are ye worthy to go that grate. 
When I was seke and soryest 
Ye viset me noght, for I was poorer 
In prison fast when I was fest 
Wold none of you lohe how I foore 5 
When I wist never where to rest 
W^ith dyntes ye drofe me from youre do ore 
Bot ever to pride then were ye prest; 
Mi flesh, my hloode, ye oft forswore. 
Clothles, when that I was cold 
That nere hande for you yode I nakyd. 
Mi myschefe saghe ye many folde , 
W^as none of you my sorow slahyd, 
Bot ever forsohe me yong and olde , 
Therfor shalle ye now be forsakyd. 
Primus Malus. 

Lorde, when had thou, that alle has. 

Hunger or thriste, sen thou God is? 

When was that thou in prison was ? 

When was thou nakyd or harherles? 

Secundus Mains. 

W^hen myght we see the seke, alas! 
And kyd the alle this unkyndnes ? 

Tercius Malus. 
When was we let the helples pas? 
Whey dyd we the this v^kydnes? 

QuaHus 3Ialus. 
Alas, for doylle this day! 
Alas , that ever I it abode ! 
Now am I dampned for ay. 
This dome may I not avoyde. 

Jesus. 
Catyfes, alas! ofte as it betyde 
That nedefuUe oght askyd in my name. 



192 MIRACLE -PL\YS. 

Yc bard them iio(jlit, youre eeres was Lid, 
Yoiire belp to thaym was not at hamc; 
To me was that unkyiidues byd . 
TLerfor ye here this hitter hlame. 
To the lest of myne when ye oghte dyd, 
To me ye dyd the self and same. 



iTunc dicet bonis, — 



Mi chosyn childer, come to me, 
With me to dwelle now shall e ye weynde, 
Ther joy and hlys ever shalle he , 
Youre life in lyhyng: for to leynde. 



iTunc dicet mulis, — 



Ye warid wig:htes , from me ye fle , 
In helle to dwelle withoutten ende, 
Ther shalle ye noght hot sorow se. 
And sit hi Sathanas the feynde. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Do now go furthe, trus, g:o we hyne. 
Unto endles wo , ay lastand pyne , 
Nay, tary not so, we get ado syne. 

Secundus Dcemon. 
Flyte hyder warde, ho, Harry Ruskyne 
YVar oute! 
The meyn shalle ye nehylle. 
And I shalle syng: the trehille, 
A revant the deville 

Title alle this hole rowte. 
Tutivillus. 
Youre lyfes ar lorne and commen is yoiu*e care 
Ye may ban ye were borne the bodes you bare. 
And youre faders beforne , so cursid ye ar. 
Primus Dcumon. 
Ye may wary the morne and day that ye ware 
Of youre moder 
First borne forto be. 
For the wo ye mon dre. 



JUDITIUM. 195 

Primus Dcemon. 
Ilkoii of you moil se 
Sorow of oder^ 
AVhere is the jyold and the g:ood that ye g^ederd to{jedir? 
The rnery menee that yode hider and thedir? 

Tiitivillus, 
Gay gyrdyls, jag-^jid hode, prankyd gowiies , whedir? 
Have ye wit or ye wode ye bro{>'ht not hider 

Bot sorowe. 
And your synnes in youre iiekkys. 

Primus Dcemon, 
I beshrew thayrn that rehkys. 
He comes to late that bekkys 

Youre bodyes to borow. 

Secundus Dcemon. 
Sir, I wold cut thaym a skawte and make theym be knawen, 
Thay were sturdy and hawte , g^reat boste have thai blawne, 
Youre pride and youre pransawte what wille it g:awnc ? 
Ye tolde ilk mans defawte and forgate youre awne. 

Tutivillus. 
Moreover 
Thare neghburs thai demyd, 
Thaym self as it semyd, 
Bot now ar thai flemyd 

From sayntes to recover. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Thare neghburs thai towchid with wordes fulle ille , 
The warst ay thai sowchid and had no skill e. 
Secundus Dcemon. 
The penuys thai powchid and held thaym stille , 
The neg'ons thai mowchid and had no wille 

For hart fare, 
Bot riche and ille dedy, 
Gederand and gredy, 
Sor napand and nedy 

Youre godes forto spare. 

15 



194 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

Tutivillus. 
For allc that ye spard and dyd extorcyon, 
For youre cliilder ye card, youre heyre and yonre son 
IVow is allc in oure wartl, youre yeres ar ron. 
It is conimcu in vowgard youre dame malison, 

To hyndc it 5 
Ye set hi no cursyng-, 
Ne no siclie smalle tliyng-. 

Primus Dcemon. 
No, Lot prase at the partyng. 

For now mon ye fynde it; 
Youre Icyfes and your females, ye brake youre wedlake. 
Telle me now what it vales alle that mery lake? 
Se so falsly it falys. 

Secundus Dcemon, 
Syr, I dar undertake 
Thai wille telle no tales, hot se so thai qwake 

For moton. 
He that to that gam gose, 
Now namely on old tose. 

Tutivillus. 
Thou held up the lose 

That had I forgotten. 

Primus Dcemon. 
Sir, I trow thai he dom som tyme were fuUe melland, 
YV^elle ye se how thai glom. 

Secundus Dcemon. 

Thou art ay telland , 
IVow shalle thai have rom in pyk and tar ever dwellaud. 
Of thare sorow no some, hot ay to he yelland 
In oure fostre. 

Tutivillus. 
By youre lefe may we mefe you? 

Primus Dcemon. 
Showe furthc , I shrew you. 



JUDITIUM. 19S 

Secundus Dcetnon. 
Yet tonyg:ht shalle I shew you 
A inese of ille ostre. 

Tiitivillus. 
Of tliise cursid forsworne and alle that Lere leyndes , 
Blaw, wolfes hede and outehorne, now namely my freyndes. 
Primus Dcemon. 
Ilia haille were ye borne, youre awne shame you sheyndes 
That shall e ye fynde or to morne. 

Secundus Dcemon. 

Com now with feyndes 
To youre angre; 
Youre dedes you dam. 
Com, g:o we now sam. 
It is commen youre gam. 

Com, tary no longer. 

Primus Bonus. 
We love the. Lord, in alkyn thyng. 
That for thyne awne has ordand thus. 
That we may have now oure dwellyng 
In heven hlis giffen unto us; 
Therfor fulle boldly may we syng 
On oure way as we trus. 
Make alle myrthe and lovyng 
With Te Deum laudamus. 



EXPLICIT JUDITIUM. 



CANDLEMAS- DAY, 



OR 



THE KILLING OF THE 



CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. 



THE IVAIMES OF THE PLEYERS. 



Tlie Poete. 

Kyng Heroivd. 

Knyght j. 

Knyght ij. 

Knyght uj\ 

Knyglit iiij 

fVatkyn, Messanger. 

Symeon, the Bysshop. 

Joseph. 

Maria. 

Anna, Prophetissa. 

A Virgyn. 

Angelus. 

Mulier j. 

Mulier ij. 

Mulier iij. 

Mulier iiij. 

Jhan Parfre ded write thys booke. 



Tlie orlylual of this play is preserved among; the Digby MSS. 
in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and has the date of 1^12. No par- 
ticulars arc known of Jhan Parfre. 



CANDLEMAS -BAY. 



Poeta. 
This solemiie fest to be had in remenbrauiice 
Of hlissed seynt Anne, moder to our lady, 
Whos ryg-ht discent was fro hyng-s allyaunce , 
Of Davyd and Salamon witnesseth the story 5 
Hir hlissid doug:hter, that callid is Mary, 
By Gods provision an husbond shuld have, 
Callid Joseph, of nature old and drye. 
And the moder unto Christ that all the world shall save. 

This glorious maiden doughter unto Anna, 
In whos worship this fest we honour, 
And by resemblaunce likenyd unto manna, 
Wiche is in tast coelestiall of savour , 
And of Jerico the sote rose floure. 
Gold Abryson callid in picture , 
Chosyn for to here mankynds savyour^ 
With a prerogative above eche creature. 

These grett thyngs remembred, after our entent 
Is for to worshyppe oure lady and seynt Anne: 
We be comen heder as servaunts diligent 
Oure processe to shewe you as we can; 



200 MIRACLE -TLAYS. 

Wherfor of benevolence we pray every man , 
To have us excused , that we no better tloo , 
An otber tyine to emende it if we can. 
Be tbe (yracc of God, if our cunnyng: be ther too. 

The last ycer we shewid you, and in this place. 
How tbe shepherds of Crist by the made letilication. 
And thre kyng:es that ycome fro the cuntrees be grace 
To worshyp Jcsu with enteer devotion: 
And now we propose with hooll affection. 
To procede in oure matter as we can, 
And to shew you of oure ladies purification. 
That she made in the temple , as the usag:e was than : 

And after that shall Ilcrowd have tydynjjs, 
How the thre kyng-s be geon boom another way , 
That were with Jesu, and made fher offryng:s. 
And promysed kyng-c Herowd, without delay 
To come a {Jfeyn by him ; this is no nay. 
And whan he wist that thei were g'oon. 
Like as a wodman he g-an to fray. 
And commaunded his knyght forth to go a noon 
In to Israeli , to serche every towne and cite 
For all the children that thei cowde ther fynde. 
Of ij yeers age and under, sparyng neither bonde nor free. 
But sle them all, either for foo or frende; 
Thus he commaunded in his furious mynde; 
Thought that Jesu shuld have be oon. 
And yitt he failed of his froward mynde; 
For, by Gods providaunce, our lady was in to Egypte gon. 

Frends , this proeessc we propose to pley as we can. 
Before you all here in your presens , 
To the honoure of God, oure lady, .ind seynt Anne; 
Beseechyng you to geve us peseable audieus. 
And ye menstrallis doth your diligens; 
And ye virgynes , shewe sume sport and plesure , 
These people to solas, and to do God reverens; 
As ye be ap]><»ynted (\o\\\ ycuu* besy cure. 



CANDLEMAS - DAY. 201 



Herowd. 

Above all kynjves iincler the clowdys cristall^ 
Royally I reig:ne io welthe without woo , 
Of plesauiit prosperytie I lakke noii at all ; 
Fortune I fynde, that she is not my foo, 
I am hyng: Herowd, I will it be knowen so. 
Most strongs and myghty in feld for to fyg:ht5 
And to venquyshe my enemyes that a geynst me do ; 
I am most be dred with my bronde bryght. 

My g:rett goddes I gloryfye with giadnesse. 
And to honoure them I knele iip on my knee; 
For thei have sett me in solas from all sadnesse^ 
That no conqueroure nor knyg:ht is compared to me: 
All the that rebelle a geyns me ther bane I will be. 
Or g-rudge a geyns my godds on hyll or hethe; 
All suche rebellers I shall make for to flee. 
And with hard punyshements putt them to dethe. 

What erthely wretches, what pompe and pride. 
Do a geyns my lawes or withstonde myne entent, 
Thei shall suflie woo and peyne thrugh bak and syde. 
With a very myschaunce ther fleshe shal be all to rent; 
And all my foes shall have suche commaundement 
That they shalbe glad to do my byddyn ay. 
Or ells thei shalbe in woo and myscheff permanent, 
That thei shall fere me nyght and day. 

My messanger, at my commaundement come heder to me. 
And take bed what I shall to the say: 
I charge the , loke a bought thurgh my cuntre 
To aspye if ony rebell do a geynst our lay: 
And if ony suche come in thy w ay , 
Brynge hem in to our hygh presens, 
And we shal se them correctid , or thei ao hens. 



202 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

IVatkifu, the Messanger. 

My lord , your commauudement I have fidfillod 
Evyu to the uttermost of my pore power ; 
And I woUl shew you more, so ye wold he conteutid. 
But I dare not, lest ye wold take it in anger: 
For if it liked you not, I am sure my deth were nere; 
And therfor, my lord, I wole hold my peas. 

Heroivd. 

I warne the , thu traytor , that thu not seas 
To observe every thyng: thu knowest a g:eyns our reverence. 
3Iessanger. 

My lord, if ye have it in your remenhraunee , 
Ther were iij straung:er knyghts, hut late in your presence. 
That went to Bedlem to oflre with due ohservaunce. 
And promysed to come a geyn by you without variaunce; 
But by ther bonys ten, thei be to you untrue, 
For homeward an other wey thei doo sue. 

Herod. 

Now be my grett godds , that be so full of myght 
I will be a vengid upon Israeli, if this tale be true. 
Messanger. 

That it is, my lord, my trouth I you plight. 
For ye founde me never false syn ye me knewe. 

Herod. 

I do perceyve , though I be here in my cheflf cite , 
Callid Jerusalem , my riche royall town , 
I am falsly disceyvcd by straunge knyghts thre : 
Therfor, my knyghts, I warne you, without delaciou, 
That ye make serche thurgh oute all my region, 
Withoute any tarieng my wille may be seen, 
And sle all the children without excepcion 
Of to yeers of age, that within Israeli bene: 

For within my self thus I have concluded. 
For to avoide a wey all interrupcion , 
Sythenes thes thre knyghts have me thus falsly deluded, 
As in manner bv froward collusion, 



CANDLEMAS - DAY. 



205 



And a jjeyn resorted horn in to tlier region: 
But yitt, maiig^re ther herts, I shall aveng^id be: 
Bothe in Bedlem and my provynees everyclione, 
Sle all the children to kepe my liherte. 

Miles j. 

My lord, ye may he sure that I shall not spare 
For to fulfiUe your nohle commaundement , 
With sharpe swerde to perse them all hare. 
In all cuntrees that he to you adjacent. 

Miles ij. 

And for your sake to ohserve your commaundement. 
Miles iij. 

Not on of them all our hands shall astert. 
Miles iiij. 

For we wole cruelly execute your judg:ement 
With swerde and spere to perse them thurg:h the hert. 

Het'od. 

I thanke you, my knyg:hts, hut loke ye, make no tarieng^. 
Go arme yoiu* self in stele shynyng: bright; 
And conceyve in your mynds, that I am your kyng, 
GeTyng you charge, that with all your myght 
In confirmacion of my tytell of ryght. 
That ye go and loke for myn advantage , 
And sle all the children that come in your sight 
W^iche ben within tvYO yeers of age. 

Now be ware, that my byddyng ye truly obey. 
For non but I shall reigne with equyte; 
Make all the children on your swerds to dey, 
I charge you, spare not oon for mercy nor pyte.^ 
Am not I lord and kyng of the cuntre? 
The crowne of all Jerusalem longith to me of right; 
Who so ever sey nay of high or lowe degre, 
I charge you^ sle all suche that come in your syght* 

Miles j. 

My lord, be ye sure, accordyng to your will. 
Like as ye charge us be streigt commaundement, 



«i04 



MIRACLE -PLAYS. 



All the children of Israeli douhtles we shall kylle 
Within to yccrs of a{fe, this is oiir entent. 

3Iiles ij. 
My lord of all Jiirye , we hold you for chef regent , 
By tytell of enheritaunce as your auncestors be forn; 
He that seith the contrary, be Mahound, shalbe shent. 
And curse the tyme that ever was born. 

Herod. 
I thanke you, my knyghts, with hooU aifection. 
And whan ye come a g^eyn I shall you avaunce, 
Therfor quyte you wele in feld and town. 
And of all the fondlyngs make a delyveraunce. 

\_Here the Knyghts shall departe from Herowd to Israeli ; and 
IVATKYJX shall ahyde , seyng thus to Herowd: — 

Now , my lord , I beseche you to here my dalyaunce , 
I wole aske you a bone, if I durst a right; 
But I were loth ye shuld take ony displesaunce: 
Now for Mahounds sake, make me a knyght. 

For oon thyng: I promyse you, I will manly %ht. 
And for to aveng^e your quarrell I dare undertake ; 
Though I sey my self, I am a man of myght. 
And dare live and deye in this quarrell for your sake ; 
For whan I com amonge them, for fere thei shall quake; 
And, though thei sharme and crye, I care not a myght. 
But with my sharpe sworde ther ribbes I shall shake 
Evyn thurgh the guttes for anger and despight. 

Herod. 
Be thi trouthe, Watkyn, woldest thu be made aknyght? 
Thu hast be my servaunt and messanger many a day, 
But thu were never provid in battaile nor in fight, 
And therfor to avaunce the so sodenly I ne may: 
But oon thyng to the I shall say , 
Be cause 1 fynde the true in thyn entent. 
Forth with my kuyghts thu shall take the way. 
And <|uyte tlie wele, and Ihu shall it noJ repent. 



CANDLEMAS -DAY. 



205 



PVathyn. 
Now a larg:eys , my lord , I am ryght wele apaid , 
If I do not wele , ley my lied upon a stokke 5 
I stall go shew your knyghts how ye have seid. 
And arme my self manly and g:o forth on the flokke , 
And if I fynde a young: child I shall elioppe it on a hlokke, 
Thoug:li the moder be angry the child shalhe slayn: 
But yitt I dredde no thyng: more than a woman with a rokke. 
For if I se ony suche , he my feith , I come a geyn. 

Herowd. 
What, shall a woman with a rokke drive the away? 
Fye on the, traitor, now I tremble for tene, 
I have trusted the long: , and many a daye ; 
A bold man and an hardy I went thu haddist ben. 

Watkyn. 
So am I, my lord, and that shalbe seen. 
That I am a bold man and best dare a byde. 
And ther come an hundred women I wole not fleen. 
But fro morrowe tyll nyght with them I dare chide. 
And therfor, my lord, ye may trust unto me 5 
For all the children of Israeli your knyghts and I shall kylle, 
I will not spare on, butt dede thei shall be. 
If the fader and moder will let me have my vrille. 

Her^owd. 

Thu lurdeyn, take bed what I sey the tyll. 
And high the to my knyghts as fast as thu can: 
Sey, I warne them in ony wyse ther blood that thei spille, 
A bought in every cuntre , and lette for no man. 

IVatkyn. 

IVay , nay , my lord , we wyll let for no man , 
Though ther come a thousand on a rought; 
For your knyghts and I will kylle them all, if we can: 
But for the wyves that is all my dought, 
And if I se ony walkyng a bought , 
I will take good hede tyll the be goon, 



206 



MIRACLE - PLAYS. 



And assoiic as I aspye that she is oute, 
By my feilh , into the hous I will go anon. 

And this I promyse you, that I shall never slepe, 
But evermore wayte to fynde the childi'en alone. 
And if the moder come in , under the bench I will crepe , 
And lye stille ther tyll she be goon. 
Than manly I shall come out and hir children sloon, 
And whan I have don I shall renne fast away : 
It she founde hir child dede, and toke me ther alone. 
Be my feith, I am sure we shuld make a fray. 

Herowd. 

Nay, harlott, abyde stylle with my knyghts I warne the, 
Tyll the children be slayn all the hooll rought; 
And whan thu comyst home a gayn I shall avaunce the. 
If thu (juyte thee like a man whill thu art ought. 
And if thu pley the coward, I put the owt of dought, 
Of me thu shalt neyther have fe nor advauntage, 
Therfor I charge you the contre be well sought. 
And whan thu comyst home shalt have thi wage. 

Tf^atkyn. 

Yis, ser, be my trouthe, ye shall wele knowe 
Whill I am oute how I shall aquyte me, 
For I propose to spare neither high nor lowe , 
If ther be no man wole smyte me : 
The most I fere the wyves will bete me, 
Yitt shall I take good hert to me and loke wele abonght. 
And loke that your knyghts be not ferre fro me. 
For if I be alone I may sone gete a llought. 

Herod. 

I say, hye the hens, that thu were goon. 
And unto my knyghts loke ye take the way. 
And sey, I charge them that my commaundcment l)e don 
In all hast possible without more delay; 
And if ther be ony that will sey you nay, 
Redde him of his lyft' out of hand anon ; 
And if thu quyte the weell unto my pay. 



CANDLEMAS - DAY. 207 

I shall make the a kiiyght aveiitryous whan thu corny st 
home. 

Watkijn. 

Syr knyghts, I must go forth with you. 
Thus my lord commaunded me for to dou; 
And if I quyte me weell whill I am amonge you, 
I shalhe made a knyght aventrys whan I come home: 
For oon thyng I promyse you, I will fight anon. 
If my hert faile not whan I shalhe gynne; 
The most I fere is to come amonge women. 
For thei fight like devells with ther rokke whan thei spynne. 

3Iiles j. 

Watkyn, I love the, for thu art even a man; 
If thu quyte the weell in this grett viage , 
I shall speke to my lord for the that I can. 
That thu shalt no more he neither grome nor page. 

Miles ij. 

I wyll speke for the that thu shall have hetter wage. 
If thu quyte the manly amonge the wyves ; 
For thei he as fers as a lyon in a cage , 
^Vhan thei are vroken ought to reve men of ther lives. 

\_Here the Knyghts and TVatkyn xvalhe ahought the place 
tyll Mary and Joseph he convcid in to Eyipt.^ 

^ngelus. 

O Joseph , ryse up , and loke thu tary nought ; 
Take Mary with the, and in to Egipt flee; 
For Jesu thy sone pursuyd is and sought 
By kyng Herowd, the wiche of grete inyquyte 
Commaunded hath thurgh Bedlem cite , 
In his cruell and furyous rage, 
To sle all the children that he in that cuntre , 
That may he founde within to yeers of age : 

Ther shall he shewe in that region 
Diverse myracles of his high regalye. 
In all ther temples the mawments shall falle down. 
To shew a tokyn towards the partie. 



208 



"MIRACLE -PLAYS. 



Tliis child hath lordship, as prophets do spoake , 

And at his coinyuj} Ihiirgh liis myg^hty hoiid, 

III dcspy{»ht of all idolatrye , 

Every ooii shall falle whan he comyth in to the lend. 

Joseph. 
O good lord, of thi gTacioiis ordenaimce, 
Like as thii list for our journey provide , 
In this viag-e with liiimhie attendaunce 
As God disposeth and list to he our gyde, 
Therfor upon them hothe mekely I shall ahide , 
Praying to that Lord to thynk upon us three , 
Us to preserve wheder we go or ryde 
Towards Eg-ipte from all advercitie. 

Mary. 
Now, hushand, in all hart I pray you, go we hens. 
For dredd of Herowd that cruell knyglit : 
Gentyll spouse, now do your diligens. 
And hryng your asse , I pray you, a non ryght , 
And from hens let us passe with all our myght. 
Thankyng that Lord so for us doth provide, 
That we may go from Herowd that cursed wyght , 
Wiche will us devour if that we ahide. 

Joseph. 

Mary, you to do plesaunce without ony lett 
I shall hrynge forth your asse without more delay ; 
Fulsone, Mary, theron ye shalhe sett. 
And this litell child that in your womhe lay , 
Take hym in your armys, Mary, I you pray. 
And of your swete mylke let him sowke inowo, 
Mawger Herowd and his grctt fray: 
And as your spouse, Mary, I shall go with you. 

This ferdell of gere I ley upon my hakke: 
Now I am redy to go from this cuntrc. 
All iny smale instruments is putt in my pakke. 



CANDLEMAS - D4Y. 209 

IVow fyo we hens , Mary , it will no better be , 
For drede of Herowd, a paas I wyll big^li me. 
Lo ;, now is our g:eer trussid both more and lesse : 
Mary, for to plese you with all humylite 
I shall gro be fore, and lede forth your asse. 

[Here Mary tVlid Joseph shall (fo out of the place, and the 
tfodds shall fall : and than shall come in the women 
of Israeli with young children in ther armys , and 
than the hnyghts shall tjo to them sayny as foluth : — 

Miles j. 

Herke, ye wyffys, we be come your houshold to visite ; 
Though ye be never so wroth nor wood. 
With sharpe swerds that redely will byte. 
All your children within to yeers ag:e in our cruell mood 
Thurghe out all Bethleem to kylle and shed ther young- 
blood. 
As we be bound be the commaundement of the hyng:: 
Who that seith nay we shall make a flood 
To renne in the stretis by ther blood shedyng-. 

3Iiles ij. 

Therfor unto us ye make a delyveraunce 
Of your young' children, and that a none, 
Or ells, be Mahounde, we shall g:eve a myschaunce. 
Our sharpe swerds thurg:h your bodies shall g-oon. 

PVatkyn. 

Therfor be ware, for we will not leve oon 
In all this cuntre that shall us escape , 
I shall rather slee them every choon. 
And make them to lye and mo we like an ape, 

Mulier j. 
Fye on you, traitors of cruell tormentrye, 
Wiche with your swerds of mortall violens, — 
Mulier ij. 
Our young: children, that can no socoure but crie, 
Wyll slee and devoure in ther innocens. 

1.4 



*2 1 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Mxdier iij. 
Vo false traitors unto God, ye do (>Tett oflfens 
To sle and morder youiijf cbildreii that in the eradell slumher. 
Midier iiij. 
But Avc ivomoii shall make a g:eyns you resistens 
After our power, your malice to encomber. 

Watkyn. 
Peas, you folyshe queiiys, wha shuld you defende 
A(»eyiis us armyd men in this apparaile ? 
^Ve be bold men , and the kynjj: us ded sende 
Hedyr in to this cuntre to hold mth you battaile. 

Mulier j. 
Fye upon the coward, of the I will not faile 
To dubbe the hnyght with my rokke rounde; 
Women be ferse when thei list to assaile 
Suche proude boyes to caste to the grounde. 

3Iulier ij. 
Avaunt, ye skowtys, I defye you every chone. 
For I wole bete you all my self alone. 

\_JVathyn hie occidet per *e.] 
Mulier j. 
Alas, alasse, g:ood cossynnes, this is a sorowfuU peyn. 
To se our dere children that be so yong: 
With these caytyves thus sodeynly to be slayn: 
A vengeauuce I aske on them all for this grett wrong'. 

Mulier ij. 
And a very myscheff must come them a monge, 
Wherso ever thei be come or goouj 
For thei have killed my yong: sone John. 
Mulier iij. 
Gosippis, a shamefull deth I aske upon Herowde our 
kyng, 
That thus ryg"orously our children hath slayn. 
Mulier iiij. 
I pray God brynjy hym to an ille endyng*. 
And In helh» pytto to dwelle ever in pcyn. 



CANDLEMAS - DAY. 21 i 

tVatkyn. 
What , ye harlotts ? I have aspied certeyii , 
That ye be tratorys to my lord the kyiij> , 
And therfore I am sure , ye shall have an ille endyuj». 

Miilier j. 
If ye abide, Watkyn, you and I shall ^ame 
With my distaflf that is so rounde. 
Mulier ij. 
And if I seas thanne have I shame , 
Tyll thu be fellid down to the grounde. 
Mulier lij. 
And I may g:ete the w^ithin my bounde. 
With this staffe I shall make thee lame. 

JVatkyn. 
Yee, I come no more therp'be seynt Mahound; 
For if I do , methynheth I shall be made tame. 

Mulier j. 
Abyde, Watkyn, I shall make the a knyght. 

IVatkyn. 
Thu make me a knyght? that were on the newe; 
But for shame, my trouthe I you plig^ht, 
I shud bete you bak and side tyll it were blewe ; 
But 5 be my God Mahounde, that is so true, 
My hert be gynne to fayle, and waxeth feynt, 
Or ells, be Mahounds blood, ye shuld it rue. 
But ye shall lose your goods as traitors atteynt. 

Mulier. j. 
What, thu jabell, canst not have do? 
Thu and thi cumpany shall not depart, 
Tyll of our distavys ye have take part. — 
Therfor ley on, gossippes, with a mery hart, 
And lett them not from us goo. 

[Here thei shall hete WVutkyn ; and the Knyyhts shall come 
to rescue hym, and than thci go to Ilerowds hous 
sayny, — 

14* 



212 



MIR4CI.I£ - PLAYS. 



Miles j. 

Honorable pryiice of g^rett apparayle, 
Thm"[;^li Jerusalem and Jude , yoiir wyll we^ have wrought , 
Full suerly harneysed in arms of plate and maile. 
The children of Israeli unto deth we have brought. 

3files if. 

Syr 5 to werke your commaundement we lettid nought , 
In the strets of the children to make a flood; 
AVe sparid neither for care nor thought, 
Thurgh Bethlem to shedde all the young blood. 

Tf^atkyn. 

In feyth, my lord, all the children be dede. 
And alle the men out of the cuntre be goon; 
Ther be but women, and thei crie in every stede, 
A vengeaunce take kyng Herode , for he hath oui* children 

slean! 
And bidde, a mischeff take him both evyn and morn! 
For kylling of ther children on you thei crie oute; 
And thus goth your name all the cuntre abought. 

Herodes. 

Oute, I am madde, my wyttes be nei goon, 
1 am wo for the workyng of this werke wylde; 
For as wele I have slayn my frends as my foon, 
Wherfor I fere, deth hath me begyled; 
IVotwithstondyng syn thei be all defyled. 
And on the young blood of Bethlem wrought wo and wrake, 
Yitt I am in no certeyn of that yong child; 
Now for woo myn herte gynneth to quake. 

Alas, I am so sorowful and sett in of sadnes, 
I chille and chevere for this orrible chaunce; 
I commaunde you all, as ye wole stond in my grace. 
Aft this yong kyng to mak good enqueraunce , 
And he that bryngeth me tydyngs I shall liym avaunce. 
Now unto my chamber I purpose me this tyde. 
And I charge you , to my precept geve attendaunce , 
In ony place wher ye goo or ryde. 



CANDLEMAS -DAY. 215 

What, out, out alias! I wene I shall dey this dayj 
My hert tremblith and quakith for feer, 
My rohys I rende a to; for I am in a fray. 
That my hert will brest asunder evyn heer. — 
My lord Mahound, I pray the with hert enteer. 
Take my soule in to thy holy hande , 
For I fele hy my hert, I shall dey evyn heer, 
For my leg-g:s falter, I may no leng:er stande. 

[Here dieth Herowde, and SYMEOIX shall sey as foluyth: — 

Now, God, that art both lok and keye 
Of all g^oodnesse and gioostly g:overnaunce , 
So geve us graee thi lawys to obeye. 
That we unto the do no displeasaunce ; 
Lett thi grace of mercifuU habondaunce 
Upon me shyne , that callid am* Symeon , 
So that I may without any variaunce 
Teche thi people thi lawis everyehon. 

From the sterrid hevyn, lord, thu list come down 
In to the closett of a pure virgyn , 
Our kynde to take for mannys salvation, 
Thi g:rett mercy thu lowe lyst enclyne, 
Lyke as prophetys by g:race that is divyne 
Have prophecied of the, sythe longe afforn; 
It is fulfilled, I knowe be ther doctryne. 
And of a chast maide , I wote wele , thu art born. 

Now, good Lord, hertly I the pray. 
Here my requeste, grounded upon right: 
Most blissed Lord, lett me never dey 
Tyll that I of the may have a sight; 
Thu art so glorious, so blissed, and so bright, 
That thi presence to me shuld be gret solas ; 
I shall not reste, but pray bothe day and nyght 
Tyll I may behold, o Lord, thi swete face. 

[Here shall OUR LADY come forth Jiold-yng Jesu in hi I 
armys , and sey this lanyuafje foluynff to Joseph : — 



214 



MIRACLE -PLAYS. 



Joseph, my spouse, tyme it is, we {foo 
Uiilo the temple to make an offrynge 
Of our swete soiic; the law commaudith so. 
And ij yoiig:e dowys with us for to hryng: 
In to a prests hands, without tariengf, 
I shall presente for an ohservaunee , 
Our bahe so hlissed wiehe is Ijut yonge 
With me to go, I pray you, make pui'viaunce. 

Josejjh. 

Most hlissed spouse , me list not to feyne, 
Fayn wold I plese you with hooU affeceion; 
Behold now, wyflF, here are doT\^s tweyne. 
Of wiehe ye shull make an oldacion. 
With our child of full grett devocion : 
Goth forth a forn , hertly I you pray , 
And I shall folue , void of presumpcion, 
AVith true entent as au old man may. 

[f/ere Maria and Joseph fjo towards the temple with Jesu 
and ij dowes, and OUR L^DY seith unto Stjmeon, — 

Heyll 5 holy Symeon , full of grett vertu ; 
To make an oifryng I gan my self perveye 
Of my sovereyne sone that callid is Jesu, 
With ij yonge dowes ;, the lawe to oheye. 
Toward this temple, grace list me conveye , 
Of Godds sone to make a presentaeion ; 
Wherfore , Symeon, hertly I you pray. 
In to your hands take myn ohlacion. 

[Here shall SYMEOIV receyve of Maria, Jcsu , and ij dowis, 
and holde Jesu in his arnu/s , expownyng Nunc dimittis 
cic. seynrj thiis , — 

Welcome, lord, excellent of power; 
And welcome , Maria , with your sone sovereyne : 
Your ohlacion of hooll herte and enteer 
I receyve , with these dowys tweyne; 
AVclcome , l»al)e , for joyc ivhat may I seyn ? 
Atwen myn armys now shall I thee emhrace : 



CANDLEMAS -DAY. 215 

My prayer, Lord, was uot made in veyii, 
For now I se tliy eelestiall face. 

[Here declare jVuuc tlimittis.] 

Llissed Lord, aft thi languag-e , 

In parfigiit peas now lett tliy servaunt reste 5 
For why, myn eyen have seyn thi visag:e , 
And eke thyn helthe thurgh my meke request : 
Of the derk dungeon let the gats hrest 
Before the face of thyn people alle ; 
Thu hast brought triacle and hawme of the best 
With sovereyne suger geyn all bitter galle: 

1 mene thi self. Lord, gracious and benigne , 
That woldest come down from thyn high glory e 
Poyson to repelle , thi mercy doth now shyne 
To chainge thyngs that are transitory, 

Thu art the light and the hevynly skye 
To the relevyng of folk most cruell , 
Thu hast brought gladnesse to our oratorye , 
And enlumyned thy people of Israeli. 

[Here shall AJSNA, PROPHETISSJ seij thus to Vhf/ynes: - 
Ye pure vii'gynes , in that ye may or can. 
With tapers of wex loke ye come forth here , 
And w or ship this child very God and man , 
Offrid in this temple be his moder dere. 

[Here virgynes as many as a man wyll shall holde tapers iv, 
tber hands; and the first seyth , — 

Fir go j. 

As ye commaunde we shall do our dever 
That lorde to plese echon for our partye. 
He makyth for us so comfortable chere 
That we must nede your babe magnifie. 

Symeon. 

]Vow, Mary, I shall tell you how I am purposed 5 
To worship your lord I wil go percession, 
For I see Anna with virgynes disposed 
Mekly as now to your sonys laudacion» 



5216 



MIHACLE- 1»I-AYS. 



Maria. 
Blissed Symeoii , with hertly affection 
As ye have seyd I concent therto. 

Joseph. 
In ^vorship of our child with grett devossion 
Ahoiijfht the tempill in order let us go. 

Sijmeon. 
Ye virgynes allc, with feythfull entent 
Dispose your silf a songe for to synge, 
To worship this childe that is here present, 
AVhiche to mankende gladnes list hryng* , 
In tokyn our herts, wiche joye doth spryng:, 
Betwyn myii armys this bahe shalbe born. 
Now, ye virgynis, to this Lord praysing, 
Syngyth Nunc dimittis of whiche I spak afforn. 

iHere shall St/meon here Jesu hi his armys goyng a "percession 
rounde ahonte the tempill, and al this wylc Vrgynis 
si It ye Tiunc dimittis; and whan that is don SYiUEOX 
seyth , — 

O Jesu, chef cause of our welfare. 
In yone tapirs ther he things iij , 
Wax week and lyght , whiche I shall declare 
To the apporprid by moralite: 
Lorde, wax betokyneth thyn humanyte. 
And week betokyneth thy soule most swete, 
Yone lyght I lyken to the godhede of the. 
Brighter than Phebus for al his fervent hete. 
Pes and mercy ban set in the here swete 
To slake the sharpnes , o Lorde , of rigour , 
Very God and man grace togcdir mete , 
In the tabirnacle of thy modrys bower: 
IVow shalt thu exile wo and al langour. 
And of mankende tappese infernall stryf , 
Record of prophets thou shalt be redemptour. 
And singuler repast of everlastyng lyf. 



CANDLEMAS -DAY. 217 

My sprete joyeth thu art so amyable , 
I am not wery to loke on tlii face , 
Our trowe entent let it be acceptable , 
To the honor of the shewys in this place; 
For thy friends a dwellyng: thu shalt purchase , 
Brijj'hter than berall outlier clere crystall , 
Thee to worship as chef welle of g-race ; 
On both my knees now down knele I shall. 

Maria. 

Now, Symeon, take me my childe that is so brig-ht. 
Chef lodesterre of my felicyte ; 
And all that long-yth to the lawe of rijyht 
I shall obeye, as it lyth in me. 

Symeon. 

This, Lord, I take you knelyng: on my kne, 
Whiche shall to blisse folk ag^eyn restore. 
And so be callid Sonne of tranquylyte , 
To g:eve them drynke that hem thyrstyd sore. 

\_Here 3IABIA receifveih hir sove thus seytiff, — 

]Vow is myn offryng-e to an ende conveyed ; 
Wherfore, Symeon, hens I wolde bende. 

Symeon. 

The lawes, Mary, fulwell ye ban obbeyed 
In this tempill with hert and mende. 
Now ferwell. Lord, comfort to all mankende: 
Ferwell , Maria , and Joseph on you waytyng-. 

Joseph. 

Celestiall socour our sone mot you sende. 
And for his hig:h mercy g:eve you his blissyng-. 

\_Here Maria and Joseph ffoyttcf from the tempill seyng : ~~ 

Maria. 
Husbond, I thank you of your g:entilnes. 
That thu ban shewed onto me this day. 
With our child most gracious of godenes: 
Let us go hens , hertly I you pray. 



218 



MIRACLE -PLAYS. 



Joseph, 

Go forthe afforn, my owne wyf, I sey , 
And I shall come aftir stil upon this ground , 
Ye shal me fynde plesanl at every assaye; 
To cheryshe you, wyf, gretly am I bonde. 

Symeoti. 

Nowe may 1 be glad in myn inwarde mynde; 
For I have seyn Jesu with my bodely eye, 
Wiche on a eross shall bey al menkende, 
Slayn by Jews at the mount of Calvery, 
And throw evyns grace here I will provysye 
Of blissid Mary how she shall suffre peyn, 
Whan hir swete sone shall on a rood deye ; 
A sharpe swarde of sorow shall cleve hir hert atweyn. 
Anna prophetissa, hertly I pray you nowe. 
Doth your devir and your diligent labour. 
And take these virgynis every chon with you, 
And teche hem to plese God of most honour. 
Anna, Prophetissa. 

Lyke as ye say, I will do this hour; 
Ye chast virgynis , with all humilite 
Worshipe we Jesu that shalbe our savyour; 
Alle at ones come on , and folowe me. 
Anna , Prophetissa. 

She we ye sume plesur as ye can. 
In the worship of Jesu, our Lady, and seynt Anne. 



Poet a. 
Honorable sovcrignes , thus we conclude 
Our matter, that we have shewid here in your presens 
And though our eloquens be but rude. 
We bcseeche you all of your paciens. 



CANDLEMAS - DAY. 219 

To pardon us of our oJBfensj 

For aft the sympyll cunnyng: that we can. 

This matter we have shewid to your audieus , 

In the worship of our Lady and hir moder seynt Anne. 

Nowe of this pore processe we make an ende , 
Thanhyng: you all of your g:ood attendaunce ; 
And the next yeer, as we he perposid in our mynde. 
The disputacion of the doctors to shew in your presens. 
Wherfor now, ye vyrgynes, or we g:o hens. 
With all your cumpany you goodly avaunee : 
Also ye menstralles doth your diligens , 
A fore our depertyng: geve us a daunce. 



GODS PROMISES 



A Tragedy or enterlude manyfestyng the chefe promyses 
of God unto man by all ages in the olde lawe, from the fall 
of Adam to the incarnacyon of the lorde Jesus Christ. Com- 
pyled by Johan Bale, Anno Domini MDXXXFIH. 



It is uncertain where this play was first printed, hut most proba- 
bly in the Low Countries, or in Switzerland. 



GOD'S PROMISES. 



BaleuSf Prolocutor. 

If profyg:lit maye growe, most Christen audyence, 
By knowleg^e of thyng:es whycli are but transytorye , 
And here for a tyme, of moch more cong:ruence, 
Advantag:e myght spryng:e , hy the serche of causes heavenlye. 
As those matters are, that the Gospell specyfye. 
Without whose knowledge no man to the truthe can fall, 
Nor ever atteyne to the lyfe perpetuall. 

For he that knoweth not the lyvyng-e God eternall. 
The father , the sonne , and also the holye Ghost , 
And what Christ suflfered for redempcyon of us all. 
What he commaunded, and taug:ht in every coost. 
And what he forhode, that man must nedes he lost. 
And cleane secluded , from the faythfuU chosen sorte , 
In the heavens above, to hys most hyg:h dysconforte. 

Yow therfor, g:ood fryndes, I lovyng:ely exhort 
To waye soche matters, as wyll be uttered here. 
Of whom ye may loke to have no tryfeling: sporte 
In fantasyes fayned, nor soche lyke g:audysh g:ere, 
But the thyngs that shall your inwarde stomake chear. 



224 MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

To rcjoyce in God for your justyfycacyoii , 
And alone in Christ to hope for your salvaeyon. 

Yea , first ye shall have the eternal generacyon 
Of Christ, like as Johan in hys fii'st chaptre wryght. 
And consequentlye of man the first creacyon. 
The ahuse and fall, through hys first oversyght. 
And the rayse ag:ayne throug:h God's hygh grace and myght 
By promyses first, whych shall he declared all. 
Then hy hys owne sonne, the worker pryncypall. 

After that Adam hywayleth here hys fall^ 
God wyll shewe mercye to every g:eneracyon. 
And to hys kyngedome, of hys great goodnesse call 
Hys elected spouse, or faythfuU congregacyon , 
As here shall apere hy open protestacyou, 
Whych from Christe's hirthe shall to hys death conclude: 
They come that therof wyll shewe the certytude. 



ACTUS PRIMUS. 



Pater coelestis. 



In the begynynnge, before the heavens were create. 
In me and of me was my sonne sempyternall 
With the holy Ghost, in one degre or estate 
Of the hygh Godhed , to me the father coequall , 
And thys my sonne was with me one God essencyall, 
W^ithout separacyon at any tyme from me. 
True God he is, of cquall diguyte. 

Sens the begynnyngc, my sonne has ever be, 
Joined wyth hys Father in one essencyall beynge. 
All thynges were create by hym in yche degre. 
In heaven and earthe, and have their dyverse workynge 
Wythout hys power, was never made anye thynge , 



god's promises. 225 

That was wroug-lit; but throiig:h hys ordyiiaiince , 
Each have hys strength and whole contynuance. 
In hym is the lyfe and the just recoveraunce 
For Adam and hys, which nougiht but deathe deserved. 
And thys lyfe to men is an hygh perseveraunce , 
Or a lyght of faythe, wherby they shall be saved. 
And thys lyg'ht shall shyne among:e the people darkened 
With unfaythfulnesse. Yet shall they not with hym tahe, 
But of wyllfuU hart hys lyberall grace forsake. 

Whych wyll compell me agaynst man for to make 
In my dyspleasure, and sende plages of coreccyon , 
Most g-revouse and sharpe, hys wanton lustes to slake. 
By water and fyre, by sycknesse and infeccyon, 
Of pestylent sores , molestynge hys compleccyon , 
By troublouse warre , by derthe and peynefuU scarsenesse , 
And after thys lyfe be an extreme heavynesse. 

I wyll first begynne with Adam for hys lewdenesse, 
AVhych for an apple neglected my commaundement. 
He shall contynue in laboure for hys rashenesse, 
Hys onlye sweate shall provyde hys food and rayment : 
Yea, yet must he have a greatter ponnyshment. 
Most terryble deathe shall brynge hym to hys ende 
To teache hym how he hys lord God shall offende. 

[fli'c prteceps m terrain cadit Adamus, ac post quartum ver- 
siim deniio resiirgit.^ 

Adam primus homo. 
Mercyfull Father, thy pytiefull grace extende 
To me carefuU wretche , whych have mesore abused , 
Thy precept breakynge. O Lorde, I mynde to amende, 
If thy great goodnesse wolde now have me excused, 
Most heavenlye Maker, lete me not be refused, 
IVor cast from thy syght for one pore synnefull cryme , 
Alas I am frayle , my whole kynde ys but slyme. 
Pater ccelestis. 
I wott it is so, yet art thu no lesse faultye. 
Than thu haddyst bene made of matter moch more worthye. 

15 



22n 



MIR \CLK- PLAYS. 



I (»ave the reason, and wyttc to uuderstaude 
The g^ood from tlic cvyll, and nol to take on hande, 
Of a braynelesse mynde , the thyngc whych I forbad the. 
u4dam primus homo. 
Soch heavye fortune hath chefelye chaiinced me, 
For that I was left to myne owne lyherte. 
Pater ccelestis. 
Then thu art blamelesse, and the faiilte thii layest to me. 

Adam primus homo. 
IVaye all I aseribe to my own imbecyllyte. 
No faulte in the Lorde, but in my inj&rmyte. 
And want of respect in soche g:yftes as thu gavest me. 
Pater ccelestis. 
For that I put the at thyne owne lyberte, 
Thu oug'htest my goodnesse to have in more regarde. 
Adam primus homo. 
Avoyde it I cannot, thu layest it to me so harde. 
Lorde, now I perceyve what power is in man. 
And strength of hymselfe, whan thy swete grace is absents 
He must nedes but fall, do he the best he can, 
And daunger hymselfe, as apereth evydent; 
For I synned not to longe as thu wert jjresent; 
But whan thu wert gone, I fell to synne by and by. 
And the dyspleased. Good lorde I axe the mercy. 
Pater ccelestis. 
Thu shalt dye for it, with all thy posteryte. 

Adam primus homo. 
For one faulte, good lorde, avenge not thyself on me. 
Who am but a worme, or a fleshelye vanyte. 
Pater ccelestis. 
I saye thu shalt dye, ivith thy whole posteryte. 

Adam primus homo. 
Yet mercy swete lorde, yf anye mercy maye be. 

Pater ccelestis. 
I am immutable, I maye change no decree 
Thu shalt dye, I saye, without anye remedye. 



ood's promises. 227 

Adam primus homo. 

Yet gracyouse Father, exteude to me thy mercye, 
And thro we not awaye the worke why eh thii hast create 
To thyiie owne Imag^e, but avert from me thy hate. 
Pater ccelestis. 

But art thu sorye from bottom of thy hart? 
Adam primus homo. 

Thy dyspleasure is to me most heavye smart. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Thau wyll I tell the what thu shalt sty eke unto, 
Lyfe to recover, and my g:ood faver also. 
Adam primus homo. 

Tell it me , swete Lorde , that I maye therafter go. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Thys ys my covenant to the and all thy ofsprynge. 
For that thu hast bene deceyved by the serpent, 
I wyll put hatred betwixt hym for hys doyng-e, 
And the woman kynde. They shall herafter dyssent; 
Hys sede with her sede shall never have agrementj 
Her sede shall presse downe hys heade unto the grounde , 
Slee hys suggestyons , and hys whole power confounde. 

Cleave to thys promyse, with all thy inwarde powre, 
Fyrmelye enclose it in thy remembraunce fast 5 
Folde it in thy faythe with full hope day and houre, 
And thy salvacyon it will be at the last. 
That sede shall elere the of all thy wyckednesse past. 
And procure thy peace , with most hygh grace in my syght. 
Se thu trust to it, and holde not the maiter lyght. 
Adam primus homo. 

Swete lorde , the promyse that thyself here hath made me , 
Of thy mere goodnesse , and not of my deservynge , 
In my faythe I trust shall so establyshed be. 
By helpe of thy grace, that it shall be remaynynge 
So longe as I shall have here contynuynge , 
And shewe it I wyll to my posteryte. 
That they in lyke case have therby felycyte. 



228 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Pater coclestis. 

For a closyii{}'C up, take yet one sentence with the. 
Adam -prinius homo. 

At thy pleasure , Lorde , all thynges myght ever be. 
Pater coilestis. 

For that my promyse maye have the deper effect 
In the faythe of the and all thy generacyon , 
Take thys syg-ne with it, as a scale therto connect. 
Crepe shall the serpent, for hys abhomynaeyon; 
The woman shall sorowe in paynefuU propagacyon. 
Like as thu shalt finde thys true in outwarde workynge. 
So thynke the other, though it be an hydden thynge. 
Adam primus homo. 

Incessaunt praysynge to the most heavenly e lorde 
For thys thy socoure, and undeserved kyndnesse 
Thu byndest me in hart thy graeyouse gyftes to recorde , 
And to beare in mynde, now after my heavynesse. 
The brute of thy name, with inwarde joye and gladnesse. 
Thu dysdaynest not, as wele apereth thys daye. 
To fatche to thy folde thy first shcpe goynge astraye. 

Most myghtye maker, thu castest not yet awaye 
Thy synnefull servaunt, whych hath done most offence. 
It is not thy mynde for ever I shuld decaye. 
But thu reservest me, of thy benyvolence. 
And hast provyded for me a recompence. 
By thy appoyntment, like as I have receyved 
In thy stronge promyse, here openly pronounced. 

Thys goodnesse, dere lorde, of me is imdeserved, 
I so declynynge from thy first instytucyon. 
At so lyght mocyons. To one that thus hath swerved. 
What a lorde art thu , to geve soche retrybucyon ! 
I, damnable wrctche, deserved exccueyon 
Of terryble deathe , without all remedye , 
And to be put out of all good memorye. 

I am enforced to rejoyce here inwardelye. 
An ympe though I be of belle, deathe, and dampnaeyon. 



god's promises. 229 

Through my owiic workyiige : for I coiisydre thy mercye 
And pytiefull myiide for my whole generacyon. 
It is thii, swete lorde, that worhest my salvacyon. 
And my recover. Therfor of a congruence, 
From hens thu must have my hart and ohedyence. 
Though I he mortall, hy reason of my offence. 
And shall dye the deathe , like as God hath appoynted : 
Of thys am I sure, through hys hygh influence, 
At a serten daye agayne to he revyved. 
From grounde of my hart thys shall not he removed, 
I have it in faythe and therfor I will synge 
Thys Antheme to hym that my salvacyon shall hrynge. 

I Tunc sonora voce, provoLutis fjenihus , yintiphonmn incipit, 
O sa2)ientia , (juam prosequetur cJiorits cion organis , 
eo interim exeunle : vel sub eodem tono poterit sic 
Anglice cantari.^ ' 

O eternal sapyence, that procedest from the mouthe of 
the hyghest, reachyuge fourth with a great power from the 
hegynnynge to the ende, with heavenlye swetnesse dysposynge 
all creatures, come now and enstruct us the true w^ye of 
thy godlye prudence. 

F'l'm't Actus primus. 



ACTUS SECUNDUS, 

Pater ccelestis, 
I have hene moved to stryhe man dyverselye, 
Sens I lefte Adam in thys same earthly mansyonj 
For whye? he hath done to me dyspleasures manye , 
And wyll not amende hys lyfe in anye condycyon : 
No respect hath he to my worde nor monycyon. 
But doth what hym lust, wythout dyscrete advysement. 
And wyll in no wyse take myne advertysement. 



250 MIKACLE - PLAYS. 

Calii hath slayiic Abel, hys brother, an innocent. 
Whose l>lou(lc from the earthe doth call to me lor veug-eaunce : 
My children ^vith mennis so caruallye consent. 
That their vayne workynge is unto me moche grevaunce : 
Mankynde is but flcshe in hys whole dallyaunce. 
All vycc encrcaseth in hym contynuallye,. 
Nothynge he regardcth to walk unto my glory e. * 

My hart abhorreth hys wylfull myserye, 
Hys cankred malyce , hys cursed covetousenesse , 
Hys lustes lecherouse, hys vengeable tyrannye, 
Unmercyfull mourther, and other un^odlynesse. 
I will destroye hym for hys outraoyousnesse. 
And not hym onlye , but all that on earthe do stere, 
For it repenteth me that ever I made them here. 
Justus Noah. 

Most gentyll maker, with hys frayleness sumwhat beai*e, 
Man is thy creature, thyselfe cannot saye naye. 
Though thu punysh hym, to put hym sumwhat in feare, 
Hys faulte to acknowledge, yet seke not hys decaye. 
Thu mayest reclayme hym, though he goeth now astraye, 
And brynge hym agayne , of thy abundaunt grace , 
To the fold of faythe , he acknowlegynge hys trespace. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Thu knowest I have geven to him convenyent space. 
With lawfull warnynges , yet he amendeth in no place. 
The naturall lawes, which I wrote in hys liarte. 
He hath outraced, all goodnesse puttyngc a parte: 
Of helthe the covenaunt, whych I to Adam made. 
He rcg^ardeth not , but walketh a damnable trade. 
Justus Noah. 

All thys is true , lorde , I cannot thy words reprove , 
Lete hys weaknesse yet thy mercyfull goodnesse move. 
Pater ccelestis. 

No weaknesse is it , but wylluU workynge all , 
That reigneth in man through myndc dyabolycall. 
He shall have therfor lykc as he hath deserved. 



god's promises. 251 

Justus Noah. 

Lose hym not yet, lorde, though he hath depelye swerved. 
I kiiowe thy mercye is farre above hys riidenesse , 
Beyeii{>:e infynyte, as all other thyiig-es are in the. 
Hys folye therfor novr pardone of thy goodnesse, 
And measure it not h^yonde thy godlye pytie. 
Esteme not hys faulte farder than helpe may be, 
But graunt hym thy grace, as he offendeth so depelye. 
The to remembre , and abhorre hys myserye. 

Of all goodnesse , lorde , remembre thy great mercye 
To Adam and Eve, breahynge thy first commaundement. 
Them thu relevedest vf\\\\ thy swete promyse heavenlye, 
Synnefull though they vrere, and their lyves neglygent. 
I knoTve that mercye with the is permanent. 
And will be ever , so longe as the worlde endure : 
Than close not thy hande from man, whych is thy creature, 

Beynge thy subject , he is undreneth thy cure , 
Correct hym thu mayest, and so brynge hym to grace. 
All lyeth in thy handes, to leave or to allure, 
Bytter deathe to geve, or graunte most suflfren solace. 
Utterlye from man averte not then thy face, 
But lete hym saver thy swete benyvolence , 
Sumwhat, though he fele thy hande for hys oifence. 
Pater ccelestis. 

My true servaunt Noah , thy ryghtousnesse doth move me 
Sumwhat to reserve for mannys posteryte. 
Though I drowne the worlde, yet wyll I save the lyves 
Of the and thy wyfe , thy three sonnes and their wyves. 
And of yeh kynde two, to maynteyne yow herafter. 
Justus Noah. 

Blessed be thy name, most myghtye mereyfull maker. 
With the to dyspute, it were unconvenyent. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Whye doest thu saye so? be bolde to speke thy intent. 

Justus Noah. 
Shall the other dye without any remedye ? 



252 



MIRACLE-rrAYS. 



Pater ccelestis. 

I wyll drowne them all , for tlieir wylftil wycked folye , 
That man herafler therl)y mayc kiiowe my powre , 
And feare to offende my g:oodnesse daye and houre. 
Justus Noah. 

As thy pleasure is, so niyght it alwayes be. 
For my helthe thu art, and sowle's felyeyto. 
Pater ccelestis. 

After that thys floude have had hys rag^ynp;e passajje, 
Thys shall he to the my covenaunt everlastyng-e. 
The sees and waters so farre never more shall rage , 
As all fleshe to drowne, I wyll so tempre their worhynge; 
Thys sygne wyll I adde also, to conJfirme the thynge. 
In the cloudes above, as a seale or token clere, 
For savegarde of man, my raynebowe shall apere. 

Take thu thys covenaunt for an ernest confirmacyon 
Of my former promyse to Adam's generacyon. 
Justus Noah. 

I wyll, blessed lorde, with my whole hart and mynde. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Farewele then, just Noah, here leave I the behynde. 
Justus Noah. 

Most myghtye maker, ere I from hens depart, 
I must geve the prayse from the bottom of my hart. 

Whom may we thanke , lorde , for our helthe and salvacyon 
But thy great mercye and goodnesse undeserved ? 
Thy promyse in fay the, is our justyfycaeyon. 
As it was Adam's, whan hys hart tlierin rested. 
And as it was theirs, whych therein also trusted. 
Thys faythe was grounded in Adam's memorye, 
And clerelye declared in Abel's innoccncye. 

Faythe in that promyse, olde Adam ded justyfye , 
In that promyse faythe, made Eva to prophecye. 
Faythe in that promyse, proved Abel innocent. 
In that promyse faythe, made Seth full obedyent. 



god's promises. 255 

That fay the taiig-ht Enos, on God's name first to call. 
And made Mathiisalah the oldest man of all. 

That fayth brought Enoch to so hyg:h exercyse. 
That God toke hym up with hym into paradyse. 
Of that faythe the want, made Cain to hate the good. 
And all hys ofsprynge to peryshe in the flood. 
Faythe in that promyse , preserved both me and myne: 
So will it all them whych folowe the same lyne. 

]\ot onlye thys gyfte thu hast geven me, swete lorde, 
But with it also thyne everlastynge covenaunt. 
Of trust for ever, thy raynehowe hearynge recorde. 
Nevermore to drowne the worlde by floude inconstaunt, 
Alac I can not to the geve prayse condygine , 
Yet wyll I synge here with harte meke and benygne. 

\_Magna tune voce yintiplionam incipit , (O oriens splendor,) 
Sfc. in genua cadens; fjuiim chorus prosequetur cum 
organis ut supra , vel Anglice suh eodem tono ] 

O most orient clerenesse, and lyght shynynge of the 
sempiternall bryghtnesse ! O clere sunne of justyce and 
heavenlye ryghtousnesse ! come hyther and illumyne the 
prisoner, syttynge now in the darke prison and shaddowe of 
eternall deathe. 

Finit Pettis seciindus. 



ACTUS TERTIUS. 

Pater ccelestis. 
Myne hygh displeasure must nedes returne to man, 
Consyderynge the synne that he doth daye by daye; 
For neyther kyndenesse, nor extreme handelynge can, 
Make hym to knowe me by any faythfuU waye, 
But styll in myschefe he walketh to hys decaye. 

16 



254 



MIRACLE -PLAYS. 



If he tlo not souc liys ivyckediiesse consydre. 
He is like, doubtlesse, to pcrysli all tojiydre. 

In iny syglit, he is more veiiym than the spyder, 
Through soch ahuses as he hath excrcysed. 
From the tyme of Noah, to this same season hyder. 
An iincomcJye acte without shame Cham eommysed , 
AVhen he of hys father the secrete partes reveled. 
In lyke case IVemrod ag:ainst me wroujylit ahusyon. 
As he raysed up the castell of confusyon. 

Ninus hath also , and all by the dcvyl's illusyon , 
Through ymage mahynge , up raysed idolatrye , 
Me to dyshonoure. And now in the conclusyon 
The vyle Sodomytes lyve so unnaturallye , 
That their synne vengeaunce axeth contynuallye , 
For my covenaunte's seke, I wyll not drowne with water. 
Yet shall I vysyte their synnes with other matter. 
Abraham fideh's. 

Yet, mercy full lorde, thy gracyousnesse rememhre 
To Adam and Noah, both in thy worde and promes: 
And lose not the sowles of men in so great nombre. 
But save thyne owne worke, of thy most dyscrete goodness. 
I wote thy mercy es are plenty full and endles. 
Never can they dye , nor fayle , thyself endurynge , 
Thys hath faythe fixed fast in iny understandynge. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Abraham my servaunt, for thy most faythfuU meanynge. 
Both thu and thy stocke shall have my plentouse blessynge. 
Where the unfaythfull , undre my curse evermore , 
For their vayne workynge , shall rewe their wyckednesse sore. 
Abraham fidelis. 

Tell me , blessed lorde , where >vyll thy great malyce lyght. 
My hope is, all fleshe shall not perysh in thy syght. 
Pater ccelestis. 

IVo trulye Abraham , thu chaunccst upon the right. 
The thyngc I shall do, I wyll not hydc from the, 
AVhora I have blcssyd for thy true fydclyte: 



god's promises. 25S 

For I knowe thou wilt cause both thy chyldren aiid servauiites , 
III my wayes to walke, and trust unto my covenauntes. 
That I may perfourme with the my earnest promes. 
Ahraliatn fidelis. 
All that wyll I do, by assystence of thy goodneSi 

Pater ccelestis. 
From Sodom and Gomor, the abhomynacyons call 
For my jyreat veng^eaunce, whych wyll upon them fall. 
Wyldc fyre and brymstone shall lyg:ht upon them all. 
Abraham fidelis. 
PytiefuU maker, though they have kyndled thy furye. 
Cast not awaye yet the just sort with the ungodlye. 
Paraventure there maye be fiftye ryghteouse persones 
Within those cyties , wylt thu lose ihem all at ones , 
And not spare the place, for those fyftye ryghteouse sake? 
Be it farre from the soch rygoure to imdertake. 

I hope there is not in the so cruell hardenesse. 
As to cast awaye the just men with the rechelesse , 
And so to destroye the good with the ungodlye : 
In the judge of all, be never soch a furye. 
Pater ccelestis. 
At Sodom, if I may fynde just persones fiftye, 
The place wyll I spare for their sakes verelye. 
Abraham fidelis. 
I take upon me, to speake here in thy presence. 
More then become me, lorde pardon my neglygcnce: 
I am but ashes, and were lothe the to offende. 
Pater ccelestis. 
Saye fourth, good Abraham, for yll dost thu non intende. 

Abraham fidelis. 
Happlye there maye be fyve lesse in the same nombre; 
For their sakes I trust thu wylt not the rest accombre. 
Pater ccelestis. 
If I amonge them myght fynde but fyve and forty e , 
Them wolde I not lose for that just companye. 



250 



MIRACLE - PLAYS. 



Abraham fidelis. 
What if the cytie maye fortye ryfyhteouse make? 

Pater ccelestis. 
Then wyll I pardone it for those same fortye's sake? 

Abraham fidelis. 
Be not angrye , lorde , though I speake undyscretelye. 

Pater ccelestis. 
Utter thy whole mynde , and spare me not hardelye. 

Abraham fidelis. 
Perauventure there maye he thirty founde amongre them. 

Pater ccelestis. 
Maye I fynde thirty, I wyll nothynge do unto them. 

Abraham fidelis. 
I take upon me to moche, lorde, in thy syght. 

Pater ccelestis. 
No, no, good Ahraham, for I knowe thy faythe is right. 

Abraham fidelis. 
IVo lesse, I suppose, than twenty, can it have. 

Pater ccelestis. 
Coulde I fynde twenty, that cytie wolde I save. 

Abraham fidelis. 
Ones yet wyll I speake my mynde , and than no more. 

Pater ccelestis. 
Spare not to utter so moche as thu hast in store. 

Abraham fidelis. 
And what if there myght he ten good creatures founde? 

Patei* ccelestis. 
The rest for their sakes myght so be safe and sounde. 
And not destroyed for their ahhomynacyon. 
Abraham fidelis. 
O mercyfull maker, moche is thy tolleracyon 
And siifferaunce of synne. I se it now in dede , 
Witsavc yet of favor out of those cyties to leade 
Those that he faythfull, though their flocke he hut small. 



god's promises. 257 

Pater ccelestis. 
Loth and hys howsliolde , I wyll delyver all , 
For ryghteousnesse sake , wliych is of me and not them. 
Abraham fidelis. 
Great are thy (jraees in the generaeyon of Sem. 

Pater coslestis. 
Well Ahraham, well, for thy true faythfulnes, 
IVow wyll I geve the my eovenamit, or third promes. 
Loke thu Leleve it, as thu covetyst ryghtuousnesse. 
Ahraham fidelis. 
Lorde so rejyarde me, as I receyve it with gladnesse. 

Pater ccelestis. 
Of manye peoples the father I wyll make the , 
All generacyons in thy sede shall he hlessyd: 
As the starres of heaven , so shall thy kyndred he ; 
And hy the same sede the worlde shall he redressed. 
In cyrcumcysyon shall thys thyng:e he expressed. 
As in a sure seale , to prove my promyse true, 
Prynt thys in thy faythe, and it shall thy sowle renue. 
Abraham fidelis. 
I wyll not one jote , lorde , from thy wyll dyssent , 
But to thy pleasure he alwayes ohedyent. 
Thy lawes to fullfyll, and most precyouse commaundement. 
Pater ccelestis. 
Farwele Ahraham, for heare in place I leave the. 

Abraham fidelis. 
Thankes wyll I rendre, lyke as it shall hehove me. 
Everlastyng:e prayse to thy most gloryouse name, 
Whych savedyst Adam through faythe in thy sweet promes 
Of the womanuys sede, and now confyrmest the same 
In the sede of me. Fosoth great is thy goodnes. 
I can not perceyve, hut that thy mercye is endles> 
To soch as feare the , in every generacyon , 
For it endureth without ahrevyacyon. 

Thys have I prynted in depe consyderacyon , 
IVo worldly matter can race it out of mynde. 



258 MIRACLE - TLAYS. 

For OIK'S it wyll be the fyiiall restauracyoii 
Of Adam and Eve, with other that hath syiide; 
Yea, the sure helthc and raysc of all mankyude. 
IIclpc have the faythfuU thcrof, though they he infect. 
They condempnacyon where as it is reject. 

Mcrcyfnll maher, my crahhed voyce dyrect. 
That it maye hreake out in some s>vete prayse to the; 
And suffre me not thy due lawdes to neglect. 
But lete me shewe forth thy commendacyons fre. 
Stoppe not my wynde pypes, hut "eve them lyherte , 
To sounde to thy name, whycli is most g:racyouse , 
And in it rejoyce with hart melodyouse. 

[_Tunc alta voce canit Anliplionam, , O rex gentium, choro 
candem proseqneiile cum organis, ut prius, vcl Anglice 
hoc modo ; — 

O most myg:htye g:overnour of thy people, and in hart most 
desyred, the harde rocke and true corner stone, that of 
hvo maketh one, unynge the Jews with the Gentyles in one 
churche , come now and relevc mankynde ^vhom thu hast 
fourmed of the vyle earthe. 

JFmit Actus tertius. 



ACTUS QUARTUS. 

Pater ccclestis. 
Styll so increase th the wyckednesse of man. 
That I am moved with plages hym to confounde. 
Ilys wcakenesse to ayde , I do the best I can. 
Yet he regardeth me no more than doth an hounde. 
My worde and promyse in hys faythe takcth no grounde; 
He wyll so longe >valke in hys OAvne lustes at large, 
That nought he shall fynde liys folye to dyschargc. 



god's promises. 259 

Sens Abraliam's tyme, wbycli was my true elect, 
Ismael have I foimde both wycked, fearce, and cruel 1 : 
And Esau in mynde with hatefull murther infect. 
The sonnes of Jacob to lustes unnatural fell , 
And into E^ypte ded they their brother sell. 
Labau to ydolles {>ave faythfull reverence , 
Dina was corrupt through Sichem's vyolcnce. 

Ruben abused hys father's concubyne , 
Judas {vate chyldren of hys own doughter in lawe: 
Yea , her in my syght went after a wycked lyne. 
Hys sede Onan spylte , his brother's name to withdrawe. 
Achan lyved here without all godlye awe. 
And now the chyldren of Israel abuse my powre 
In so vyle maner, that they move me everye howre. 
Moses sanctus. 

Pacyfye thy wrathe , swete lorde , I the desyre , 
As thu art gentyll, benygne , and j)acyent, 
Lose not that people in feareenesse of thine yre 
For whom thu hast shewed soche tokens evydent, 
Convertynge thys rodde into a lyvelye serpent. 
And the same serpent into thys rodde ag-ayne. 
Thy wonderfuU power declarynge very playne. 

For their sakes also puttest Pharao to payne 
By ten dyverse plages, as I shall here declare. 
By blonde, frogges, andlyee ; by flyes, death, botche, and blayne; 
By hayle, by grassoppers, by darknesse , and by care; 
By a soden plage, all their first gotten ware, 
Thu slewest, in one nyght, for hys fearce cruelnesse. 
From that thy people witholde not now thy goodnesse. 
Pater ccelesfis. 
I certyfye the , my chosen servaunt Moses , 
That people of myne is full of unthankefulnes. 
Moses sanctus. 
Dere lorde, I knowe it, alas ! yet waye their weakenesse. 
And beare with their faultes , of thy great bounteousnesse. 
In a flamynge bushe havynge to them respect. 



240 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Tliu ap])oyiiteilst mc their passage to direct. 

And tliroiigli the reade sec thy ryght haude ded us lede 

AVhere Pharoe's hoost the floude overwhelmed in dede. 

Thu wentest heforn them in a shynynge cloiule all daye. 
And in the darke uyght in fyre thu shewedest their waye. 
Thu sentest them manna from heaven to he their food. 
Out of the harde stone thu gravest them water good. 
Thu appoyntedst them a lande of mylke and honye. 
Let them not perysh for want of thy great mereye. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Content they are not with foule nor yet with fayre. 
But murmour and grudge as people in dyspayre. 
As I sent manna they had it in dysdayne, 
Thus of their welfare thay manye tymes complayne. 
Over Amalech I gave them the vyetorye. 
3Ioses sanctus. 

Most gloryouse maker, all that is to thy glorye. 
Thu sentest them also a lawe from heaven ahove , 
And dalye shewedest them manye tokens of great love. 
The hrazen serpent thu g:avest them for their healynge , 
And Balaam's curse thu turnedest into a blessynge. 
I hope thu wilt not dysdayne to help them styll. 
Pater ccelestis. 

I gave them preceptes, which they will not fulfyll, 

Nor yet knowledge me for their God and good lorde. 
So do their vyle dedes with their wyked hartcs accorde 
Whyls thu hast talked with me famylyarlye 
In Synai's mountayne, the space hut of daycs fortye. 
Those sightes all they have forgotten clerely. 
And are turned to shamefull ydolatrye. 
For their God, they have sett up a golden calfe. 
Moses sanctus. 

Let me saye sumwhat, swetc Father , in their hehalfe. 
Pater ccelestis. 

I w^ll first conclude, and then saye on thy mynde. 
For that I have founde that people so unkynde , 



god's promises. 241 

]Vot one of tliem shall eiijoye the promyse of me , 
For enterynjje the laiide, but Caleb and Josue. 
Moses sanctus. 

Thy eternall wyll evermore fulfylled be. 
For dysobeydenee thu slewest the sonnes of Aaron , 
The earthe swellowed in both Dathan and Abiron. 
The adders ded stynj>:e other wycked persones els , 
In wonderfidl nombre. Thus hast thu ponnyshed rebels. 
Pater coelestis. 

Never wyll I spare the cursed inyquyte 
Of ydolatrye , for no cause , thu mayst trust me. 
Moses sanctus. 

Forg-eve them yet, Lorde, for thys tyme, if it may be. 
Pater coelestis. 

Thynkest thu that I wyll so sone change my decre? 
No , no 5 frynde Moses , so lyght thu shalt not fynde me , 
I wyll ponnysh them all ; Israel shall it se. 
Moses sanctus. 

I wote 5 thy people hath wrought abhomynacyon , 
Worshyppynge false {foddes, to thy honour's derog^acyon, 
Yet mercyfullye thu mayest upon them loke j 
And if thu wylt not, thrust me out of thy boke. 
Pater coelestis. 

Those g:reat blasphemers shall out of my boke cleane , 
But thu shalt not so, for I knowe what thu doest meane. 
Conduct my people , myne angell shall assyst the , 
That synne at a day wyll not uncorrected be. 
And for the true zele that thu to my people hast, 
I adde thys covenaunt unto my promyses past. 

Rayse them up I wyll a prophete from amonge them. 
Not onlyke to the , to speke my wordes unto them. 
Whoso heareth not that he shall speake in my name , 
I wyll revenge it to hys perpetual shame. 
The passover lambe wyll be a token just 
Of thys stronge covenaunt. Thys have I clerely dyscuste , 
In my appontycment thys houre for youre delyveraunce. 

17 



'i4«2 



MIRACLE -PLAYS. 



Closes sanctus. 

IVever shall thys tliyng^e depart from my remembraunce. 

Laude be for ever to the most mercyfuU lorde , 
Why eh never withdrawest fiom man thy heavenly e comfort. 
But from age to ag:e thy benefytes doth recorde 
What thy g-oodnessc is, and hath bene to hys sort. 
As we fynde thy g:race , so ought we to report. 
And doubtlesse it is to us most bounteonse. 
Yea, for all our synnes most rype and plenteouse. 

Abraham our father fouude the benyvolouse. 
So ded g:ood Isaac in hys dystresse among-e. 
To Jacob thu wert a gyde most gracyouse. 
Joseph thu savedest from daung:erouse deadlye wrongre. 
Melchisedech and Job felt thy g:reat goodnesse strong:e , 
So ded good Sara, Rebecca, and fayre Rachel, 
W^ith Sephora my vryfe , the doughter of Raguel. 

To prayse the, swete lorde, my faythe doth me compell, 
For thy covenaunte's sake wherin rest our salvacyon, 
The sede of promyse , all other sedes excell. 
For therin remayneth our full justyfycacyon. 
From Adam to Noah, in Abraham's generacyon. 
That sede procureth God's myghty grace and powre; 
For the same sede's sake, I wyll synge now thys howre. 

[Clara tunc voce ^niipJionam incipit , O Emanuel, {fuatn 
chorus (ut prius) proscqueUir cum organis , vel 
^nglice canat, — 

O hyg^h kynge Emanuel, and our lege lorde! the longe 
expectacyon of Gentyles, and the myghtye saver of their 
multytude , the healthe and consolacyon of synners, come 
now for to save us, as our Lorde and our Redeemer. 

Finit Actus quartus. 



god's promises. 24r> 



ACTUS QUINTUS. 



Pater ccelestis. 

For all the faver I have shewed Israel , 
Delyverynge her from Pharaoe's tyraiiiiye , 
And gevyngfe the lande, fluentetn lac et mel , 
Yet wyll she not leave her olde ydolatrye, 
IVor know me for God. I ahhorre her myserye. 
Vexed her I have with battayles and decayes , 
Styll must I plage her, I se no other wayes. 

David rex jpius. 

Remembre yet, lorde, thy worthye servaiint Moses, 
Walkynge in thy syght, without rebuke of the. 
Both Aaron, Jetro, Eleazar, and Phinees, 
Evermore feared to oifende thy mageste , 
Moch thu aceeptedst thy servant Josue. 
Caleb and Othoniel sought the with all their hart, 
Aioth and Sangar for thy folke ded their part. 

Gedeon and Thola thy enemyes put to smart, 
Jayr and Jephte gave prayses to thy name. 
These, to leave ydolles, thy people ded coart. 
Samson the stongest, for hys part ded the same. 
Samuel and Nathan thy messages ded proclame. 
What though fearce Pharao wrought myschef in thy syghl, 
He was a pagane , laye not that in our lyght. 

I wote the Benjamytes abused the wayes of ryght, 
So ded Helye's sonnes, and the sonnes of Samuel. 
Saul in hys ofFyce was slouthful daye and night, 
Wycked was Semei, so was Achitophel. 
Measure not by them the faultes of Israel , 
^Vhom thu hast loved of longe tyme so inteyrlye ^. 
But of thy great grace remyt her wycked folyc. 



244 MIRACLE -PL.VVS. 

Pater ccelestis. 

I cannot aLytle the vyce of ydolatrye , 
Tlioiioh I sbuld suffer all other vyllanye. 
Whan Josue was dead, that sort from me ded fall 
To the worshyppyn,oe of Asteroth and Baal, 
Full imcleane ydolles, and monsters bestyall. 
David rex pins. 

For it they have had thy righteouse ponnyshment. 
And for as moch as they did wyckedly consent 
To the Palestynes and Chananytes ungodlye 
Idolaters , takyng:e to them in matrymonye , 
Thu threwest them iindre the kynge of Mesopotamye, 
After thu suhduedest them for their idolatrye. 

Eyghtene years to Eglou, the hynge of Moahytes, 
And XX. years to Jahin, the hynge of Chananytes, 
Oppressed they were vii. years of the Mydyanytes, 
And XVIII. years vexed of the cruell Ammonytes. 
In three great battayles , of three score thousand and fyve, 
Of thys thy people , not one was left alyve. 
Have mercye now , lorde , and call them to repentaunce. 
Pater ccelestis. 

So long:e as they synne , so loiige shall they have grevauuce. 
David my servaunt, sumwhat must I say to the, 
For that thu latelye hast wrought soch vaiiyte. 
David rex pins. 

Spare not. Messed lorde, hut saye thy pleasure to me. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Of late dayes thu hast mysused Bersahe , 
The wyfe of Urye , ami slayne hym in the fyelde. 
David rex pins. 

Mercye. lorde, mercye, for douhtlesse I am defyelde. 
Pater ccelestis. 

I constytute the a kynge over Israel, 
And the preserved from Saul, whych was thy enemye. 
Yea, in my faver , so moch thu dedyest excell. 
That of thy enemyes I gave the vyctorye. 



god's promises. 245 

Palestynes and Syryanes to the came trybutarye. 
Why hast thu then wroug-ht soch folye in my syg-ht, 
Despysynge my worde , against all godlye ryght ? 

David rex puis. 
I have synned, lord, I beseech the, pardon me. 

Pater ccdestis. 
Thu shalt not dye, David, for thys inyquyte. 
For thy repentaunce ; but thy sonne by Bersabe 
Shall dye, for as moch as my name is blasphemed 
Among my enemyes, and thu the worse estemed. 
From thy howse for thys the swerde shall not depart. 
David rex pius, 
I am sorye , lorde , from the bottom of my hart. 

Pater ccelestis. 
To further anger thu doest me yet compell. 

David rex pius. 
For what matter, lorde ? I beseech thy groodnesse tell. 

Pater ccelestis. 
Why dedest thu numbre the people of Israel ? 
Supposest in thy mind therin thu hast done well? 
David rex pius. 
I cannot saye naye, but I have done undyscretelye 
To forg:et thy grace for a humayne pollycye. 

Pater ca^lestis. 
Thu shali of these three chose whych plagre thou wilt have, 
For that synnefiUl acte, that I thy sowle maye save. 
A scarcenesse vii. years, or else in. monthes exyle , 
Eyther for in. dayes the pestylence most vyle. 
For one thu must have, there is no remedye. 

David rex pius. 
Lorde , at thy pleasure , for thu art full of mercyc 

Pater ccelestis. 
Of a pestylence, then in. score thousand and ten 
In III. dayes shall dye of thy most puysant men. 



2246 



MIUACLE - PLAYS. 



David rex pins. 
O lorde, it is I whych have offended thy grace, 
Spare them and not me, for I have done the trespace. 
Pater coelestis. 

Though thy synnes be great, thy inwarde harte's contrycyon 
Doth move my stomake in wonderful! condycion. 
I fyndc the a man accordynge to my hart 5 
Wherefor thys promyse I make the, ere I depart. 

A frute there shall come forth yssuynge from thy bodye , 
AVhom I wyll advaunce upon thy seate for ever. 
Hys trone shall become a seate of heavenlye glorye , 
Hys worthy scepture from ryght wyll not dyssever , 
Hys happye kingedome , of fayth shall perysh never. 
Of heaven and of ear the he was autor pry ncy pall. 
And wyll contynue, though they do perysh all. 

Thys sygne shalt thu have for a token specyall , 
That thu mayst beleve my wordes unfaynedlye, 
Where thu hast mynded, for my memoryall , 
To ])uylde a temple, thu shalt not fynysh it trulye; 
But Salomon thy sonne shall do that accyon worthye. 
In token that Christ must fynysh every thynge 
That I have begunne , to my prayse everlastynge. 

David rex pius. 

Immortall glorye to the, most heavenlye kynge , 
For that thu hast geven contynuall vyctorye 
To me thy servaunt, ever sens my auoyntynge. 
And also before , ])y manye conqucstes worthye. 
A bearc and lyon I slewe through thy strength onlye. 
I slew Golias , which was vi. cubites longe. 
Agaynst thy enemyes thu madest me ever stronge. 

My flesblye fraylenesse made me do deadlye wronge , 
And cleane to forget thy lawes of ryghteousnesse. 
And though thu vysytedst my synncfulnesse araonge, 
With pestylent plages , and other unquyctnesse ; 
Wt never tokcst thu from me the plenteousnesse 



god's promises. 247 

Of thy godly sprete, which thu in me dedest plant. 
I havynge remorce, thy grace coiilde never want. 
For in conclusyon, thy everlastynge covenaunt 
Thu gavest unto me for all my wycked synne ; 
And hast promysed here by protestacyon constant , 
That one of my sede shall soch hygh fortune wynne , 
As never ded man sens thys worlde ded begynne. 
By hys power he shall put Sathan from hys holde. 
In rejoyce whereof to synge wyll I he holde. 

[_CaHora voce tunc incipit Antiplionani , O Adonai , tpiant 
(lit prius) prosequcUir chorus cum organis , vel 
sic Anglice : — 

O lorde God Adonai , and gyde of the faythfiill howse 
of Israel, whych sumtyme aperedst in the flamyng hushe to 
Moses, and to hym dedst geve alawe in mounte Syna, come 
now for to redeme us in the strengthe of thy ryght hande. 

Finit Actus quint us. 



ACTUS SEXTUS. 

Pater ccelestis. 

I brought up chyldren from their first infancye, 
Whych now despyseth my godlye instruccyons. 
An oxe knoweth hys lorde, an asse hys master's dewtye 
But Israel wyll not know me, nor my condycyons. 
Oh frowarde people, geven all to superstycyons , 
Unnaturall chyldren, expert in blasphemy es, 
Provoke th me to hate , by their ydolatryes. 

Take hede to my wordes, ye tyrauntes of Sodoma, 
In vayne ye oflfer your sacryfyce to me. 
Dyscontent I am with yow beastes of Gomorra, 
And have no pleasure whan I your offerynges se, 
I abhorre your fastes and your solempnyte. 



248 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

For your tradycyoiis my wayes ye set apart. 

Your workes arc in vaync , I hate tlieni from the hart. 

Esaias propheta. 

Thy cytie, swete lorde, is now become unfaythfull, 
And her condycyons are turned up so downe. 
Her lyfc is unchast, her actes be very hurtefull. 
Her murther and theft hath darkened her renowne. 
Covetouse rewardes doth so their conscyence drowne. 
That the falherlesse they wyll not help to ryght, 
The poore wydowe's cause come not afore their syg:ht. 

Thy peceablc pathes seke they neyther daye nor nyg:ht; 
But walke wycked wayes after their fantasye. 
Convert their hartes, lorde, and geve them thy true lyg'ht. 
That they maye perceyve their customable folye: 
Leave them not helplesse in so depe myserye. 
But call them from it of thy most specyall grace. 
By thy true prophetes, to their sowle*s helthe and solace. 

Pater ccelestis. 
First they had fathers, than had they patryarkes. 
Than dukes , than judges to their gydes and monarkes : 
Now have they stowte kynges, yet are they wycked styll. 
And wyll in no wyse my pieasaunt lawes fulfyll. 
Alwayes they apply e to ydolles worshyppynge , 
From the vyle begger to the anoynted kynge. 

Esaias propheta. 

For that cause thu hast in two devyded them , 
In Samaria the one, the other in Hierusalem. 
The kynge of Juda in Hierusalem ded dwell, 
And in Samaria the kynge of Israel. 
Ten of the twelve trybes byeame Samarytanes, 
And the other two were Hierosolymytanes. 

In both these cuntreyes, accordynge to their doyngies, 
Thu permyttedest them to have most cruell kynges. 
The first of Juda was wycked kynge Roboam, 
Of Israel the first was that cruell Ilieroboam ; 



god's promises. 249 

Abia than Mowed, and in the other Nadab, 

Than Basa, then Hela, then Zambri, Joram and Achab. 

Then Ochosias, then Athalia, then Joas^ 
On the other part was Jonathan and Achas. 
To rehearce them all that have done ^vretchydlye 
In the syght of the , it were longe verelye. 
Pater ccelestis. 
For the wyeked synne of fylthye ydolatrye , 
AVhych the ten trybes ded in the lande of Samarye , 
In spaee of one daye fyfty thousand men I slewe, 
Thre of their cyties also I overthrewe , 
And left the people in soche captyvyte, 
That in all the worlde they wyst not whyther to fie. 

The other ii. trybes, whan they from me went bach 
To ydolatrye, I left in the liande of Sesack, 
The hynge of Egipt, whych tohe awaye their treasure, 
Convayed their cattel, and slewe them without measure. 
In tyme of Achas, an hondred thousande and twentye 
Were slayne at one tyme for their ydolatrye. 

Two hondred thousande from thens were captyve led , 
Their goodes dyspersed, and they with penurye fed. 
Seldom they fayle it, but eyther the Eg:ipcyanes 
Have them in bondage, or els the Assyreanes: 
And alone they maye thanke their ydolatrye. 
Esaias propheta. 
Wele, yet blessed lorde, releve them with thy mercye. 
ThoUjoh they have been yll by other prynces dayes, 
Yet good Ezechias hath taught them godlye wayes. 
AVhan the prynce is good , the people are the better ; 
And as he is nought , their vyces are the greatter. 
Heavenlye lorde, therfor send them the consolaeyon, 
Whych thu hast covenaunted with every generacyon. 

Open thu the heavens , and lete the lambe come hither , 
Whych wyll delyver thy people all togyther. 
Ye planetes and cloudes, cast downe your dewes and rayne. 
That the earth maye beare out helthful saver playne. 

18 



2o0 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

Pater ccelestis. 
Maye the wyfe forg^et the chylde of her owiic l>oclyo? 

Esaias propheta. 
IVaye , that she can not in anye wyse verelye. 

Pater ccelestis. 
IVo more can I them whych wyll do my commandementes. 
But must preserve them from all inconvenyentes. 
Esaias prophet a. 
Blessed art thu , lorde , in all thy actes and judgementes. 

Pater ccelestis, 
Wele 5 Esaias , for thys thy fydelyte , 
A covenaunt of helthe thu shalt have also of me. 
For Syon's sake now I wyll not holde my peace. 
And for Hierusalem , to speake wyll I not cease 
Tyll that rygfhteouse lorde become as a sunne heame hryg:ht. 
And their just saver as a lampe extende hys lyjjht. 

A rodde shall shut fourth from the olde stocke of Jesse, 
And a bryght blossome from that rote wyll aryse. 
Upon whom alwayes the sprete of the lorde shall be , 
The sprete of wysdome, the sprete of heavenly practyse, 
And the sprete that wyll all godly nesse devyse. 
Take thys for a sygne, a mayde of Israel 
Shall conceyve and beare that lord Emanuel. 
Esaias propheta. 
Thy prayses condyg-ne no mortal tunge can tell. 
Most worthye maker and kynge of heavenlye glorye , 
For all capacytees thy g-oodnesse doth excell. 
Thy plenteouse graces no brayne can cumpas trulye, 
IVo wyt can conceyve the greatnesse of thy mercy e, 
Declared of late in David thy true servaunt. 
And now confirmed in thys thy latter covenaunt. 

Of goodncsse thu madcst Salomon of wyt most pregnaunt, 
Asa and Josaphat, with good kynge Ezcchias, 
In thy syght to do that was to the ryght pleasaunt. 
To quench ydolatrye thu raysedest up Ilclias, 
Jehu, Ileliseus, Michas, and Abdias, 



god's promises. 251 

And IVaaman Syrus thu pourg-edst of a leprye. 
The workes wonderfull who can but magnyfye? 

Aryse, Hierusalein , and take faythe by and bye. 
For the verye lyght that shall save the is commyng-e. 
The Sonne of the lord apere wyll evydentlye , 
Whan he shall resort , se that no joye be wantynge. 
He is thy saver, and thy lyfe everlastyng:e , 
Thy release from synne , and thy whole ryg-hteousnesse. 
Help me in thys songe to knowledg:e his great g-oodnesse. 

iConcittna tunc voce Aniiplionani inchoat, O radix Jesse ^wam 
chorus prosequeter cum organis, vel ^ntjlice hoc modo 
canet : — 

O frutefuU rote of Jesse, that shall be set as a syng-e 
amonge people, ag:aynst the worldly rulers shall feareely 
open their mouthes. ^Vhom the drentyles worshypp as their 
heavenlye lorde, come now for to delyver us, and delaye 
the tyme no longar. 

Finit j4ctus sextus. 



ACTUS SEPTIMUS. 



Pater ccelestis. 

I have with fearcenesse mankynde oft tymes corrected. 
And agfayne I have allured hym by swete promes. 
I have sent sore plages, when he hath me neg:lected. 
And then by and by, most confortable swetnes. 
To Wynne hym to grace, bothe mercye and ryg:hteousnes 
I have exercysed, yet wyll he not amende. 
ShaU I now lose hym, or shall I hym defende? 

In hys most myschefe, most hygh grace will I sende 
To overcome hym by favoure, if it may be. 



252 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

With hys ahusyoiis no longer wyll I contende 
But now aceomplysli my first wyll and decre. 
My wordc Lcyngc flesh, from hens shall set hym fre, 
Ilym teachyngie a waye of perfyght ryghteousnessc , 
That he shall not nede to perysh in his weaknesse. 
Johannes haptista. 
Manasses is past, whych turned from the hys harte, 
Achas and Amou have now no more ado , 
Jeehonias with others, whych ded themselves avarte 
Fro the to ydolles , may now no farther go. 
The two false judges, and Bel's wycked prestes also, 
Phassur and Semeias, with Nabuchodonosore , 
Antiochus and Triphon , shall the dysplease no more. 

Thre score yeares and ten, thy people into Babylon 
Were captyve and thrall for ydolles worshyppynge. 
Hierusalem was lost, and left voyde of domynyon. 
Brent was their temple , so was their other buyldynge , 
Ther hygh prestes were slayne, ther treasure came to nothyng; 
The strength and bewtye of thyne owne heretage. 
Thus dedest thu leave then in myserable bondage. 

Oft had they warnynges, sumtyme by Ezechiel 
And other prophetes, as Esaye and Hieremye, 
Sumtyme by Daniel, sumtyme by Ose and Johel, 
Ay Amos and Abdias , by Jonas and by Sophonye, 
By IVahum and Micheas , by Agge and by Zacharyc , 
By Malachias, and also by Abacuch, 
By Olda the wydowc , and l)y the prophete Baruch. 
Remembre Josias, whych toke the abhomynacyon 
From the people, then restorynge thy lawes agayne. 
Of Rechab consydrc the faythfull gcneracyon. 
Whom to wyne drynkynge no fryndshyppe myght constrayne. 
Remembre Abdcmelech, the fryntlc of truthc certayne , 
Zorobabel the prynce, whych ded repare the temple. 
And Jesus Josedcch, of vcrtu the exemple. 

Consydrc IVchcmias, and Esdras the good scrybc, 
Mercyfull Tobias , and conslaunl Mardochous ; 



GOD S PROMISES. 



255 



Judith and quene Hester, of the same g:odly trybe, 
Devoute Mathias, and Judas Machabeus. 
Have mynde of Eleazar, and then Joannes Hircanus, 
Waye the earnest faythe of thys godlye companye , 
Thoug-h the other cleane fall from thy memorye. 
Pater ccelestis. 

I wyll Johan , I wyll , for as I sayd afore , 
Ryg:our and hardenesse I have now set apart, 
Myndynge from hens fourth to wynne man evermore 
By wonderful! kyndenesse to breake hys stubberne hart. 
And change it from synne. For Christ shall suffre smart. 
In mannys frayle nature for hys iuyquyte, 
Thys to make open, my massenger shall thu be. 
Johannes haptista. 

As thy pleasure is ; so blessed lorde appoynte me , 
For my helthe thu art, and my sowle's felycyte. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Long^e ere I made the, I the predestynate, 
Before thu wert borne I the endued with grace. 
In thy mother's wombe wert thu sanctyfycate 
By my godlye gyft, and so confirmed in place, 
A prophete , to shewe a waye before the face 
Of my most dere sonne , whych wyll come : then untyll 
Applye the apace thyne offyce to fulfyll. 

Preache to the people, rebiikynge their neglygence, 
Doppe them in water, they knowledgyng-e their offence 5 
And saye unto them. The kyngedome of God doth cum. 
Johannes haptista. 

Unmete , lorde , I am , Quia puer ego sum. 
An other than that, alac, I have no scyence 
Fyt for that offyce, neyther yet cleane eloquence. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Thu shalt not saye so, for I have geven the grace > 
Eloquence and age, to speake in desart place. 
Thu must do therefor as I shall the advyse. 
My appoynted pleasure fourth utter in any wyse ? 



234 MIRACLE - PLAYS. 

My stronjje myglityc wordes put I into thy inouthc, 
Spare not, l)ut spcakc them to east, west, north and soiithe. 

[//tc extendeus Domimts mamnn , labia Joannis digito tancjet, 
ac orl imponet aurcam linguatn.^ 

Go now thy waye fourth , I shall the never fayle , 
The sprete of Helias have I g:even the alredye. 
Persuade the people , that they their synnes hywayle ; 
And if they repent their customahle folye, 
Longe shall it not he ere they have remedye. 
Open thu their hartes ; tell them their helth is commyng^e 
As a voyce in desart ; se thu declare the thynge. 

I promyse the sure, thu shalt washe hym amonge them 
In Jordane, a floude not farre from Hierusalem. 

Johannes baptista. 
Shewe me yet, g:ood lorde, wherehy shall I hnowe that man, 
In the multytude whych wyll resort to Jordan. 

Pater ccelestis. 

In thy mother's womhe of hym haddest thu cognycyon. 
Johannes baptista. 

Yea , that was in sprete. I wolde now knowe hys person. 
Pater ccelestis. 

Have thu no feare , Johan , hym shalt thu knowe full well , 
And one specyall token afore wyll I the tell. 
Super quern videris spiritum descendentem et manentem 
Super eum, hie est qui haptizat spiritu sancto. 

Among^e all other whom thu shalt baptyse there, 
Upon whom thu seyst the Holy Ghost descende 
In shappe of a dove , restynge upon hys shuldere , 
Holde hym for the same, that shall the worlde amende 
By haptysm of sprete, and also to man extende 
Most specyall grace. For he must repare hys fall, 
Restoryngc agayne the justyce orygynall. 

Take now thy journaye, and do as I the advyse; 
First preachc repcntaunce, and than the people baptyse. 



god's promises. 2S5 

Johannes baptista. 

Hyg-li honour , worshypp , and glorye be unto the , 
My God eternall, and patrone of all puryte. 

Repent, good people, for synnes that now are past. 
The kyng'dome of heaven is at hande very nye. 
The promysed lyght to yow approcheth fast , 
Have faythe, and applye now to recyve him boldelye. 
I am not the lyght, hut to heare testymonye 
Of hym am sent, that all men maye heleve, 
That hys hloude he wyll for their redemptyon geve. 

He is soch a lyght as all men doth illumyne. 
That ever were here, or shall be after thys. 
All the worlde he made by hys myghtye power devyne , 
And yet that rude worlde wyll not hnowe what he is. 
Hys owne he enterynge, is not regarded of hys. 
They that receyve hym , are God's true chyldren playne , 
In sprete regenerate, and all grace shall attayne. 

Manye do rechen , that I Johan Baptyst am he , 
Deceyved are they , and that wyll apere in space. 
Though he come after, yet he was longe afore me. 
We are weake vessels, he is the welle of grace. 
Of hys great goodnesse all that we have we purchase. 
By hym are we like to have a better increes 
Than ever we had by the lawe of Moses. 

In Moses harde lawe we had not els but darkenes, 
Fygure and shaddowe ; all was not els but nyght , 
Ponnyslmient for synne, much rygour, payne and roughnes. 
An hygh change is there, where all is turned to lyght, 
Grace and remyssyon anon wyll shyne full bryght. 
Never man lyved that ever se God afore, 
Whych now in our kynde mannys ruyne vryll restore. 

Helpe me to geve thankes to that lorde evermore , 
Whych am unto Christ a cryar's voyce in the desart. 
To prepare the pathes and hygh wayes hym before , 
For hys delyght is on the poore symple hart. 



2o(> MIRACLE -PLAYS. 

That innocent lambe from soch wyW never depart, 
As wyll f'aytlifullyc reecyve liyni with good mynde. 
Lete our voycc then sountle in some swete musycall kyndo. 

\_Resonn tunc voce Antiphonam ineijtit, O elavis Da\id, quam 
prosef/uctur chorits cum organis, ut prius , vel in 
Auf/lico serinone sic : — 

O perfy{jht keye of David, and hygh sceptiire of the 
kyndred of Jacob, whyeh openest and no man speareth, 
thu speakest and no man openeth; come and delyver thy 
servaunt mankynde , hound in prison , sytting: in the darknesse 
of synne and bytter dampnacyon. 



Baleus , Prolocutor. 

The matters are soch that we have uttered here 
As ought not to slyde from your memory.ill ; 
For they have opened soch confortabie gere, 
As is to the helthe of this kyude universall , 
Graces of the lorde and promyses lyberall , 
Whyeh he hath geven to man for every age. 
To knytt hym to Christ , and so clere hym of bondage. 

As saynt Paule doth write unto the Corinthes pkiyne , 
Our fore fathers were undre the cloud of darkenes. 
And unto Christe's days ded in the shaddowe remayne; 
Yet were they not left , for of hym they had promes , 
All they reccyved one spirytuall fedynge doubtles. 
They dronke of the rocke whyeh them to lyfe refreshed. 
For one savynge helthe, in Christ, all they confessed. 

In the woman's sede was Adam first justyfyed. 
So was faythfull Noah, so was just Abraham; 
The faythe in that sede in Moses fourth multyplyed, 
Lykewyse in David and Esaye that after cam. 
And in Johan Baptyst, whyeh shewed the very lam. 
Though they sc afarre , yet all they had one justyce , 
One masse, as they call it, and in Christ one sacryfyce. 



god's promises. 257 

A man can not here to God do better servyee. 
Than on thys to grounde hys faythe and under standynge. 
For all the worlde's synne alone Christ payed the pryce. 
In hys onlye deatlie was mannys lyfe alwayes restynge. 
And not in "wyll worhes , nor yet in mennys deservynge , 
The lyght of our faythe make thys thynge evydent. 
And not the practyse of other experiment. 

Where is now fre wyll, whom the hypocrytes comment? 
Wherehy they report they maye at their owne pleasure 
Do good of themselves, though grace and fayth he absent, 
And have good intentes their madnesse with to measure. 
The wyll of the fleshe is proved here small treasure , 
And so is mannys will, for the grace of God doth all. 
More of thys matter conclude hereafter we shall. 

Thus endeth thys Tragedy or enterlude, manyfestynge 
the chefe promyses of God unto Man by all ages in the 
olde lawe , from the fall of Adam , to the incarnacyon of 
the lorde Jesus Christ. Compyled by Johan Bayle, Anuo 
Domini 1558. 



19 



GLOSSARY. 



GLOSSARY. 



A, aye, ever. A is sometimes used 
instead of I as personal pronoun. 

Accombrc, 23^, to overwhelm, to 
destroy. 

Acold, 65, so called. 

Aghe, 17S, awe, dread. 

Aght, 12S, 146, the imp. of awe, 

Aleond, 7^, by land. 

Amelle , 9^, among. 

, " ^ ' ' , ? evidently. 
Appeartely, 34, ) *' 

Are, 1^2, before. 

Arere, 48, to raise. 

A revant, 192, back again. 

Asse, 97 , to ask with authority, 

to command. 
Athog , 86 , as though. 
Augent, 77, august. 
Avowtree, 186, adultery. 
Awe , 93, to owe, the old present 

tense of ought. 
Awre, 121 
Awro, 112 
Awter, S3, S4, altar. 



' > ever - aught. 



B. 



Bale, 17, 149, grief, misery. 
Balk, 110, a ridge of land. 



Baylle, 102, 106, grief, misery. 
Bayne , 1 7 , to belong to , to be 
, of kin to. 

Bayne, 8, 78, prepared, ready. 
Bedene, 117, immediately. 
Begownne, 42, committed. 
Beheight, 16, 20, promised. 
Behest, 15, covenant; 132, to 

promise, to command. 
Behet, IS, ) , 
Behite, 14, \ *« P— - 
Belaiiiy, 169, 171, 173, bel-ami? 
Belighte, 16, to believe. 
Belke, 186, to belch. 
Belyve, 7, 102, quickly. 
Bemys , 42, beams , rays. 
Bendys, 18S, bands or ribbons. 
Benste, 110, 121, benedicite. 
Bent, 113, the open field. 
Bere, 123, a noise. 
Beshew, 29, readbeshrew, to curse. 
Be-telle, 139, to deceive, to mislead. 
Beteyche, 62, to commit. 
Beth, 42, be. 
Beyn, ISS , a bean.. 
Beyr, 169, a noise. 
Bidene , 1 76 , see bedenCi 
Biggid, 180, builded. 
Blawdyr, 48, scandal. 
Ble, 148, 151, face, countenance. 



1202 



(iLOSSARY 



Blende, 149, lo shed. 

Bleiile, ol, Minded. 

IMondei*, too, sorro^v. 

Blovre, 103, a pimple, a pustule. 

Blure , brought on, 182, ]»leared 
the eye , deceived. 

Blyii, 3, 7, 17, 1 to cease, lo 

Blynne, 1151, 162, ) desist. 

Bodword , 98, 173, a message. 

Bon, 1415, bound. 

Bone, 101, 106, a boon. 

Boote , 24, profit, gain. 

Borglie , 1158, a surety. 

Bot , but , except; bot if, unless. 

Bonne, 13, 215, prepared, ready. 

Bow, bete the, 44, beat tbe bush. 

Bowke , 1815, bulk, stomach. 

Bowne, 4, 15, 96, prepared, ready. 
Bowrde, 120, a joke, 

Boyn, 147, 132, a boon. 

Boy it, 149, a compensation ; more 

commonly help or succour. 
Brade, 1153, a start, a sudden turn 

or assault J 164, to stai't. 
Brand, 137, a sword. 
Brefes, 179, 182, letters. 
Brest, 141, 142, to burst. 
Brodelle , 1615, a blackguard. 
Bronde, 74, 201, a sword. 
Brymly, 176, fiercely. 
Bryth , 42, bright. 
Bun, 111, 156, bound. 
Burde , 6, a board. 
Bynkc , 190, a bench, 
Byth, 42, but. 

C. 

Carl, 99, a churl, a bondman. 
Carp, 100, lo relate, lo talk. 
Calyl'es, 1715, 176, cailifl's.i 
Catyfnes, 147, 188, captivity, 

wretchedn(\ss. 
Cele, 129, 141, } , 
Ceylle, 127, \ ^^^rF^css. 



Charys , 119, turns, jobs. 

Chcfe , 122, to succeed. 

Chepe, 114, merchandise. 

Chevithe, 1154, to make a bargain. 

Chyle, 131, to chide. 

Clekyt, 183, hatched. 

Clok , 111, to clock , the noise a 

hen makes when she has ceased 

to lay, and is desirous of sitting 

upon her eggs. 
Clowte, 154, a mark, a blow. 
Cokwold, 43, 415, a cuckold. 
Conseil, 72, concealment. 
Cop , 1315, a cup. 
Courte-roUar , 182, the writer or 

keeper of the rolls of a court 

of law. 
Couthe, 915, 112, could. 
Cowle , 8, colewort , cabbage. 
Crak, 1215, to boast. 
Croyne, 12S, 133, to crone, to 

utter a low murmuring sound. 
Crisp, 1815, fine linen or cobwed 

lawn. 
Crumpe , 178, the cramp, 
Cuker, 184, part of a woman's 

head dress. 

D. 

Dalle, 1515, 179, the hand. 
Dalyawnce, 150, dalliance, conjugal 

conversation. 
Darfe, 1715, hard, cruel. 
Dayntethe , 162, a dainty thing. 
Dede, 137, 149, death; 103, 107, 

dead. 
Deeme , 37, to redeem. 
Deene , 7, see bedene. 
Dcfyne, 26, to defy. 
Deiryne, 26, dear. 
Delf, 915, to dig. 
Delfe, li56, a grave. 
Deme , 188, to doom, lo judge. 
Dere , 1157, 176, hurt, damage. 
Derfe, 190, hard, cruel. 



GLOSSARY. 



265 



Dern , 181, concealed, secret 

Devyi' , 4t>, duty. 

Diggs, 9, ducks. 

Dight, S, 15, 27, to prepare, to dress, 

Dold , 109, stupid, confused. 

Dole, 22, a part. 

Doket . 183, a shred or piece. 

Dowse, 117, a slut. 

Doylle, 105, 148, dolor, grief. 

Dray, 119, to draw. 

Dre, 148, 132, to endure. 

Dresse, 64, to address. 

Dug, 183, to cut? 

Dustards 157, dastards? 

Dwere, 41, a door. 

Dyght, 78, 157, prepared. 

Dyke, 93, to make ditches. 

Dyng, 107, 1G8, to cast down. 

Dytars, 181, inditers , accusers. 

E. 

E, aye. 

Ee, 116, 176, the eye. 

Eeyne, 110, 165, the plural of 

eye. 
Efte, 145, again. 
Eich , each. 
Elyke, 96, alil^e. 
Emelle, 94, 99, among. 
Enderes, 89, the last. 
Enewe, 126, 186, enough. 
Everichan, 10, 107, every one. 
Eyvin, 62, even, equal, fellow. 

F. 

Fa, 136, faith. 

Faed, 149, faded. 

Fang, 106, 155, to take. 

Fard, 155, afraid. 

Farde with fantafye, 16, full of 

deceit. 
Farly, 162, strange. 
Fame, 128, 129, past part, of fare. 
Fassion, 74, falchion. 
Fature, 100, 166, 168, a lazy. 



idle fellow. 
Fawcun, 74, a falcon. 
Fax, 185, the hair of the head, 
Faye, 15, 48, faith. 
Fayne, 60, 65, glad, desirous. 
Feare, a mate, a comrade; in fere, 

27, in company, together. 
Feature , 26, 54, a deceiver. 
Fee, 93, cattle. 
Feetly, 30, fitly. 
Feigne , 21, glad , desirous. 
Fell, 21, skin, hide. 
Felle, 94, 148, many. 
Felter, 183, to entangle. 
Ferd, 41, 42, fared. 
Ferde , 173, 178, fear. 
Ferdell, 208, a bundle. 
Fere, a mate, a comrade ; in fere, 

79, 81, in company, together. 
Fere, 98, to put in fear. 
Ferray, of, 182, on a foray. 
Fetyld, 180, prepared, made ready 

for use. 
Feyne, 214, to be glad. 
Flekyt, 185, mended. 
Flemyd, 195, driven out, put to 

flight. 
Flume, 165, a river. 
Flyt , 105, 104, to fly,'to flee from. 
Flytars, 179, 186, scolders, 
Foche, 100, to fetch. 
Fon, 133, to be foolish. 
Fon, 184, found. 
Fone, 5, foe. 
Fonge, 4, see fang. 
Food, 131, offspring. 
Foore, 113, 191, the imp. of fare. 
Fordo, 78, 93, to destroy. 
Forebyer, 16, Redeemer. 
Forfete, 42, to forfeit, to transgress. 
Forgang, 110, to forego. 
Forn, S6, before. 
Forrakyd , 117, overdone with 

walking. 
Forspokyn, 151, bewitched. 



2G4 



GLOSSARY. 



Fortaxcd , 109, wrongly taxed. 
Forthy, 54, iOi, therefore, for 

this cause. 
Forlhyiili , 113, 127, to repent, 

to grieve. 
Foryeteu, 7, forgotten. 
Fott, 127, to fetch, to take, 
Founde, 17, ) to try, to 

Fownde, 158, 1^8, ) attempt. 
Fowre, 105, 112, the imp. of fare. 
Foyn, 147, the plural of foe. 
Foyne, 118, 142, a heap, an 

abundance. 
Frankishfare , 6, nonsense. 
Frast, 98, 178, to inquire, to tempt. 
Fryg, 18^, a freik , a man. 
Fryth, frith; he fryth, 68, by sea. 
Fun, 94, 111, found. 
Fyld, field ; be fyld, 68, by land. 

G. 

Gadlyng, 1S6, 168, an idle fellow. 

Gang, 122, 155, to go. 

Gar, 151, 152, to cause, to make. 

Garray , 106, 129, array, troops. 

Gart, the imp. of gar. 

Gate, Avay ; alle gate, 1^4, alway. 

Gawde, 94, 102, tricks. 

Gaytt, 1S5, see gate. 

Gent, SO, gentle. 

Gere, 168, 178, gear. 

Gett, 184, fashion. 

Geyn, 159, given. 

Glase, 119, gloss, appearance. 

Glede, 85, a fire. 

Gowles, 51, gulls. 

Gramercy, 42, 46, 48, many thanks. 

Gramory, 18.5, Latin learning. 

Graniyd, IjS, angered, afflicted. 

Gralhly, 165, suddenly, swiftly. 

Grayd, 168, past part, of gray the 

to prepare. 
Greesly, 54, grisly, horrible. 
Greete, 20, grit, gravel, earth. 
Grcte, li52, 178, to weep. 



Grewys, 186, grieves. 
Grill, 4, to anger, to pain. 
Grise, 177, to shudder, to tremble. 
Grofen , 104, past part, of grufe 

to grow. 
Gruch, 1^6, to repine. 
Grysely, 2^, 179, grisly, horrible. 
Gyn, t>2, to begin. 
Gyrd , 151, to strike oft'. 
Gyse, 42, 45, guise, way, fashion. 

H. 

Haghe, 10i> , an interjection of 

astonishment. 
Hak, 12^, 155, to hack, to sing 

badly. 
Hamyd, 109, hemmed in, sur- 
rounded. 
Hap, 124, to wrap up, to cover. 
Har, 84, 165, to harry, to plague. 
Hardely, 105, 159, certainly. 
Harie, 79, trouble. 
Harnes, 115, 122, brains. 
Haro, 177, ^ the ancient IVor- 
Haroo , 124, > man Hue and 
Harro, 165, ) Cry. 

Harsto, 165, hearest thou. 
Hatters, 128, spiders. 
Hawvelle and jawvelle , 186 , 

havers and jabbering, idle talk. 
He, 6, 150, high. 
Heale, 9, health. 
Height, 27; see beheight. 
Heings, 28. 
Hek, 119, a door. 
Hem, him, them. 
Hend, 12, courteous, kind. 
Hent, 86, 98, to take; hente 21, 

taken , caught. 
Hete, 152, 155, to promise. 
Hethyng, 182, scorn, derision. 
Hetyng, 155, a promise. 
Heynde, 97, 152, courteous, kind ; 

107, applied to inanimate objects, 

commodious. 



GLOSSARY. 



26^ 



lleytt , 105, promised. 

High, 209, to hie, to hasten. 

Ilight, 16, 137, called. 

Hir, her. 

Hodys, Si, hoods, 

Hoket, 182, 18^, scorn. 

Hole, 98, to fetch, to take. 

Honde, 42, 64, the hand. 

Hone, 106, to delay. 

Hose, 125, hoarse. 

Houle, 17, to know. 

Hm-lyd, 18^, staling, bristled, 

Hyde, 10, 180, ) to hie, to 

Hye, 7, 8, 78, ) hasten. 

Hyge, 42, 66, high. 

Hyght, 125, promised. 

Hynd , 68, 69, courteous , kind. 

Hyne , 115, 180, a servant. 

Hyne, 26, to hie, to hasten. 

Hyne, 192, hence. 

Hytt the pynne, 65, to knock 

the right nail on the head , to 

guess right. 

I. 

Ich, I. 

Ich, 126, 141, each. 

Ilk, 117, 141, each. 

like, 16, 170, same. 

Ilkon, 195, each. 

lU-a-hale, 1^6, ill luck to you, 

ill luck on it. 
Inclysse, 29, in clysse, in glory? 
Intraste, 167, enti-ace ? 
I^vys , 150, 166, certainly. 

J. 

Jabell , 211, a gossip. 

Jape, 184, deceit. 

Jape, 116, a deceiver. 

Jesen, 81, 85, a lyingin childbed. 

JoAvke, iS6, a dissembler. 

K. 

Kelle , 185, a caul , part of a 
woman's head dress. 



Ren, 19, 21, the knee. 
Ren , 94, 96, 98, to know. 
Rerne , 84, an idle person, a 

vagabond. 
Reysar, 80, Ccesar or emueror. 
Rnave , 128, a boy; knavechild, 

120, man-child. 
Rnowlych , 65, to acknowledge. 
Roket, 182, cocked, coquetish. 
Run thank , 94, to thank. 
Ry, 44, to kyke, to look. 
Ryd, 147, 170, past part, of kythe. 
Ryuke, 179, to draw the breath 

audibly, to laugh aloud. 
Rynnys, 45, kind, manner. 
Ryppys , 128, skips. 
Rythe, 146, to show, to make 
♦ evident. 

L. 

Laghe , 175, law. 

Lakan, 117, 149, a plaything, 

a tov- 
Lake, 114, 125, to play. 
Lare , 99, lore , learning. 
Lathe , 166, loathsome. 
Lawdys , 114, the laudes or lauds, 

the concluding part of the Matins 

service. 
Lay, t>5, song, affair, thing. 
Lay, 201, law. 
Leare , 26, to learn, to teach. 
Ledden , 9, language. 
Lede, a people, a nation; in lede, 

165, 16S, among the people. 
Ledyr, 115, lazy. 
Lee, 51, pleasiu'e. 
Leech , 54, to cure , to preserve. 
Leeven, 16, 17, to believe; also 

to leave, 
Lefe, 110, to believe, 
Legge, 171, to alledge, to cite. 
Lele, 127, loyal, faithful, 
Lente, 17, tarrying, 
Lerc, 118, 172, to learn, to teach. 

20 



26G 



GLOSSARY. 



Let, 17, to cease. 
Letberly, 11-5, lowly, meanly. 
Lever, 12G, 179, ) the compari- 
> (ive of leyf 

Levyn, 152, lightning. 

Lewd, 154, 142. unlettered, one 
of the leod or common people. 

Lewtye, 12, lawty, fidelity. 

Ley he, 62, lay by, cease. 

Leyche, 62, a physician. 

Leyd, in, 16 i; see lede. 

Leygis, 64, leagues. 

Ley-land, 112, unploughed land. 

Leyn, 99, 116, to lend, to grant. 

Leynd , 97, 102, to tarry , to 
remain. 

Libarde, 8, a leopard. 

Ligged, 16, lurlicd. 

Loe, 10, to think. 

Lollar, 182, one of the sect of 
the Lollards. 

Looe, 6^, a lowe, a mount. 

Loppys, 105, lops, fleas. 

Lorden, see lurdan. 

Lore, 7, learning, direction. 

Loryd, 101, learned. 

Lose, 194, praise. 

Losell, 101, I a dissolute 

Lossell, 26, 28 j lazy fellow. 

Losyngere, 86, a liar. 

Loten, 112, see sowre. 

Lowd and still, 4, at all times. 

Lowte, 27 

Lowth, 62 

Luddokkys, 18i), 

Lufly, 154, lovely 

Lurdan, 101, 164 

Lurdeyn, 20t>, ) lazy fellow. 

Lyere, 149, flesh. 

Lymho, 164, 168. Limbus is the 
name given by the Church of 
Rome to the place in which it 
is supposed the righteous were 
confined before our Saviour's death. 



to bow, to bend. 



) a dissolute 
) lazy 1 



Lyme, 2^, a limb, an assistant. 
Lyst, 94, lust, pleasure. 

M. 

Ma, 136, my. 

Maculacion , i>5, a spot , a stain. 

Make to make, 7, mate to mate, 
like to like. 

Maken, 9, to mate, to associate. 

Maroo, 124, an associate. 

Mase, 97, 164, the 5rd person 
singnilar of may to make. 

Masyd, 170, amazed, bewildered. 

Maugre, 205 , in spite of , not- 
withstanding. 

Maweless, 28, unsubstantial, false. 

Mawgre, 208, in spite of, not- 
withstanding. 

Mawmentry, 159, idolatry. 

Maye, 2S, 54, a maid. 

Maylle easse, 126, mal-aise, illness. 

Mayne, 20, 25, main, might. 

Meanye, 7, 15, see meneye. 

Measse, 98, a mess, the measles, 
leprosy, scurvy. 

Mede, 84, 135, reward, desert. 

MediUe-erd, 178, the middle ha- 
bitation between heaven and hell, 
the world. 

Mefe, 194, to move, 

3Iekylle, 99, 104, much. 

Melle,27, 49, to meddle, to contend. 

Melle, 97, 136, to tell, to speak. 

Mener, 154, handsome. 

Meneye, 104, 120, 137, ) a noun of 

Menyee, 150, 130, j multi- 
tude, having in general a relative 
signification according- to its con- 
nexion. Thus the meneye of a 
king is his court and retinue; of 
a general , his army ; of our 
Saviour , his disciples. Anglo 
Saxon maniu, mcenigeo, or moe- 
nigu , the word used by yElfric 



GLOSSARY. 



267 



ibr the congregatiou of the Chil- 
dren of Israel. 

Meng-, iS2, to mingle. 

Ment, 76, 77, 100, meant, niimled. 

Meselle , 104 , measled , afflicted 
^yitli leprosy or scurvy. 

Meve , 60, to move , to moot , to 
argue. 

Meyne, lli>, 192, the hass part 
in singing. 

Miclile, 22, 28, much. 

Missaes, li>6, what is mis-said, 
lies, <§*c. 

Mom 99, to mumble. 

Mon, 104, 107, 108, must. 

Mote, 23, 50, to moot, to argue. 

Mow, 140, to make mouths, gri- 
maces. 

Moytt, li>l, 170, to moot, to argue. 

Muf, 99, to move. 

Mychers, 137, 179, cheaters. 

Myn, 14, 17, ISO, to have in mind, 
to remember. 

Myn, 100, less. 

Myssase , 180, to mis-say, to lie, 
to contradict. 

Myster, 190, need. 

Mystyz, S4, mysterious, unknown. 

N. 

Napand, 195, gasping. 

Nate, 159, to have occasion for. 

Nately, 113, neatly. 

Nawre, 121, the negative of awi*e. 

Ne, nor. 

Neemly, 118, nimbly. 

IVegons, 195, negh ones? Neigh- 
Lours. 

IVeowell, 75, a Christmas cai*ol. 

IVere bande, 109, 191, almost, 
very near. 

Nesb, 128, tender. 

Neven, 98, 11«), to name, to speak. 

Nigremy, 54, necromancy. 

Nonys, 127, nonce, purpose. 



Nores, 126, ) 

w M r'M i ^ nurse. 

Noryse, 141. ) 

Note, 11, 125, ) business, oc- 

Noyte, 98, 170, ) cupation. 

Notbt, 41^ nought. 

Noye, 5, 7, annoyance, hurt. 
Nurry, 26, a nursling, a child. 
Nyfyls, 181), trifles. 

o. 

Oder, 195, other. 

Okerars, 183, usurers. 

Onys, 45, once. 

Or, ere, before. 

Outehorne, 193, an outlaw. 

Owth, 49, 35, ought, any thing. 

P. 
Parde , 46, 110, par Bieu, by God. 
Parrage, 71, parentage, extraction. 
Pay, 82, liking, satisfaction. 
Pay, 106, to please. 
Payer, 24, to impair, to lessen. 
Perde, 125, 151, see parde. 
Peryng, 77, appearing. 
Pety enime, 43, a mean adversary, 

a slanderer. 
Pight, 149, to complain. 
Pighte, 22, 53, fixed. 
Pleyny, 43, 189, to complain. 
Po, 110, a peacock. 
Postee, 18, 19, power. 
Profles, 23, proofs. 
Prow, 44, 169, profit. 
Pyrie, (yd, a sudden wind. 
Pystylle, 111, an epistle. 

Q 

Quantyse, 93, 158, cunning. 

Quere, 67, choir. 

Qweasse, 126, to wheeze, to breath 

with difficulty. 
Qwedyr, 46, to quiver, to shake. 

R. 

Race , 31, train ? 
Rad, 114, 130, afraid. 



268 



GLOSSARY 



lUaiy, 107, quickly. 

Rafte, 28, left , talien a>vay. 

Ragman, roll of, 182, any autbentic 

catalogiie or list drawn up .ve- 

cundum regimen. 
Rake, 159, range, liherly. 
Rakyd, 117, fonakyd. 
Ramyd, 109, thrust, cast down. 
Rape , t5^, to hasten. 
Rathly, 131, ready, 
Reach, 54, to reck , to care. 
Read, 19, 28, ) , . 
Red , 6, 84, S '"^^'''' '""'"'^' 
Red, 18, 55, to advise, to counsel. 
Refe, 109, 1G7, to bereave, to rob. 
Rek, 119, 195, to reck, to care. 
Reme , 80, 87, realm. 
Renderars of reft'ys , 179, those 

v»'ho undertake to restore stolen 

goods for a reward. 

Rerd, 178, a voice, a noise. 

Rew , IS 7, to compassionate. 

Reyllc, 118, to ramble about. 

Ro, 146, rest. 

Rode, 147, \ 

^ , .» . . r c the cross. 

Roode, 55, 114, 5 

Rok, 122, a distaff. 

Rollar; see courte-rollar. 

Rome, 6, to roam. 

Rowners , 18S, whisperers. 

Rude, 132, 139; see rode. 

Ruled out of raye, 50, deprived 

of reason. 

Runkers, 18o, double tongued. 

Rused , 135, praised. 

Ryth, 42, right. 

s. 

Sagb, 151, to say. 

Sairjour, 26, saviour. 

Sakles , 146, blameless, innocent. 

Sam, 151, 142, together. 

Sawc, 24, 95, a saying, a report. 

Savvgeourc , 182, a soldier. 

Sawtcr, 167, 18^<, fhe psaMer. 



Saynt , 113, say it. 

Schape, 35, ^6^, to escape. 

Schapp , 82, shape, make. 

See, 21, 50, a seat, a throne. 

Seekerly , 17, certainly. 

Seith, 51, since. 

Sekyr, 42, sure, certain. 

Selcow th, 96, seldom, extraordinary. 

Sely, 109, 110, simple. 

Sen, 145, 143, since. 

Serys , 48, 49, sirs. 

Selh, 22, since. 

Seven, to set all in, 153, to put 

all in order. 
Sew, 107, to follow. 
Sey, 87, to assay , to attempt. 
Seyd, 49, 97, seed; 49, said. 
Scyr, 171, various. 
Sharme, 204, to sham. 
Shekyls, 111, ague, trembling. 
Shente, 23, 57, ruined, destioyed. 
Sheynd, 106, 152, to ruin, to 

destroy. 
Shone , 1 10, the plural of shoe. 
Shrew, 25, 115, a cursed fellow. 
Shrew e, 48, 119, to curse. 
Shroges , 123, rough uninclosed 

ground more or less covered with 

brushwood. 
Sith , 8, 14, since. 
Skant, 78, scant, scarcely. 
Skape, 99, 119, to escape. 
Skawde, 150, a scold. 
Skawte, 195. 
Skraw , 134, a scroll. 
Slea, 54, to slay. 
Slewthe, 186, sloth. 
Slich, 4, 
Slicke, 3, 
Sloghe, 122 

Slokyn, 155, to slake, to quench. 
Slose, 155, sloth. 
Slyke, 98, such like. 
Sly(h, 112, to sHl, ro (ear. 
Suck. 119, Ihe laJch of a door. 



GLOSSARY. 



269 



true. 



!, }*" 



destroy. 



Soflerent, ^9, sovereign. 

Sonde, 42, S4, 62, a message 
a messenger. 

Score, 61, exceedingly. 

Sote, 200, 

Soth, 12, 17 

Sothren, 116, boiled, eaten away. 

Sounde , 1 7, a voice , a word. 

Sowe, 98, 102, to ensue, to follow. 

Sowre loten , 112, sour leaven is 
derived from leaving the piece 
of dough to ferment ; loten 
signifies the same , and is the 
part, of Icetan , to leave. 

Soyn, 9i>, 97, soon. 

Sparte, 185, spare it. 

Speareth, 2S6, aslteth, enquireth. 

Spere , 70, spirit. 

Spill, 4, 1^. 

Spylle,94, 9^ 

Springe, 24, 29, to flourish, to 
succeed. 

Spyr, 181, to ask, to enquire. 

Spytus, 110, 176, spiteful. 

Stad, 162, ) .^ , ^ 

c-i 1 ■ . If M rn < staid, placed. 
Sted, 111, 148. ) ^ 

Steake , 1 1 , to fasten with sticks. 

Stede, 12^, 151, a place. 

Stevyn , 152, a voice. 

Stoure , 16t>, a trouble, a perilous 

situation. 
Stower, 15, a steer. 
Stowke , 18t), twelve sheaves of 

corn piled up. 
Stownde, 178, an acute pain. 
Suflerntis, 60, sovereigns. 
Suspowse, 127, suspicion. 
Swedylle , 124, 150, to swathe , 

to bind. 
Swell, 127, to die. 
Swepys , 1S5, whips. 
Swevyn, 122, a dream. 
SwUk, 184, 187, such. 
Swongen, 1^5, past part, of swinge 

to beat. 



Swych, 45, such. 
Swynk, 115, 119, to toil. 
Swythe, 107, swift, quick. 
Sybbe, 49, SS, a relation by blood, 

a kinsman , a kinswoman. 
Syn, 112, 127, since, afterwards. 
Syse, SS, assize, judgement. 
Syth, 41, time. 
Sythen, 93, 98, since, afterwards. 



Tane, 120, taken. 

Taxed , see fortaxed. 

Taylle , 170, an account. 

Teene, to take, 19, to take heed to. 

Tene, IS, 152, grief. 

Tent, 45, 94, attention, heed. 

Tent, 178, 18S, to take heed to. 

Teyche, see beteyche. 

Teyn, 188, grief. 

Teyn, 157, 171, to affllict, to 
provoke. 

Thar, 186, 189, to need. 

Tharmes, 122, guts. 

The , thee , they. 

Thew, 182, service. 

Tho, 187, those. 

Thole, 119, 149, to suffer. 

Thoner, 104, thunder. 

Thraw, 147, 1^54, a short space 
of time. 

Threpe, 114, to trip. 

Thurt, 169, 190, the imp. of thar. 

Thyrlyd, ISl, pierced through. 

To and til are used indiscrimately 
with reference both to time and 
place. 

Tollare, 182, a speaker. 

ToUe, 46, to tell. 

Tome, 128, 178, empty. 

Ton, 34, toes. 

Topeas, 6, topmast. 

Trantes, 166, tricks. 

Trayn, 161, an artifice, a contri- 
vance. 



270 



GLOSSARY. 



Trete , on, 170, in an cnlrealin{>- 

manner. 
Tristur, 181, the ])lace allotted 

to a person in hunting'. 

Trowse, 117, ) to tie up the 

Truse, 65, ) hreecbes. 

Truage, 7o, toll, custom. 

Trus, 18o, 192, to pack, to go. 

Twayne, 17, ) ^, . ^ 

r^ . , w . ^ , >to divittc. 

Twyn, 144, 164, ) 

Twyfyls, 18o, two-folds. 

Twyk, 143, to twitcli, to pull 

suddenly. 
Tyne 147, 180, to lose. 
Tyte, 107, 151, quick, swift; as 

tyte, 136, as quick as possible. 
Tytbyng, 65, 75, tidings. 
Tytter, 105, a tittle, the least 

distance. 



u. 



Umtbynke, 171, to deliberate. 

Unethes, 182, ) 

^T ., « 13- f scarcely. 

Unothes, lb5, ) ' 

Unfeayne, 515, unfeigned. 

Unys , 104, probably a mistake in 

the original copyist for uuys , 

ewes. 
Ure , 1 10, to experience. 

V. 

Yerament , 56, verily, truly. 
Voket, 17«5, an advocate. 
Vowgard , 194, 
Vrokeu , 207, revenged. 

w. 

Walk-mylne, 18o, a fulling mill. 
Y^'^all, wcale and wytt, 19, power, 

felicity and wisdom. 
W^an , 96, imp. of win, to go. 
Vl'^ar, 117, worse. 
Warloo, 152, 15o, ) a >varlock , 
AVarlov> , 101, ) a wizard. 



AYar-')ul(',192,a term usedindriving. 

\^'arry, 14, 109, to curse. 

AYarle , 185, wear it, spend it. 

Wate, 150, wote, knew. 

Alate, 190, wet. 

\^^ax, on thy, 185, of thy growth. 

Wayt 111, 116, to know. 

\Tede, 85, 15o, raiment. 

Wedurs, 6o, 110, clouds. 

"^Teete, 6, the tide. 

AVelkin, lo, the sky. 

AVelland, lOS, boiling. 

Welner, 122, well nigh. 

Y^^ema , 145, an exclamation de- 
manding attention. 

Wend, 10, oO, to go. 

Wene, 3, 7, to think. 

IVent, 20o, weened, thought. 
^Yenyand , 125, an illusion to the 
belief that actions undertaken in 
the wane of the moon would be 
unsuccessful. 
Werd , 161, the world. 
'V^'^ere , 56, 178, confusion, war. 
Y^^ere, 140, 17o, doubt, uncertainty. 
AYere, 98, to defend. 
"V^'eyn , 115, 154, to ween, to 

think. 
lYeyn, 96, doubt. 
Y^^eynde, 9i>, 100, to go. 
Whik, 128, quick, living. 
Witt, 53, to know. 
AYitterly, 19, 24, verily, truly. 
Wode, 85, 86, mad. 
Won, 94, 98, to dwell. 
Wonden , lo9 , wrapped in a 

winding sheet. 
Wonys, 127, dwelling places. 
AYonys, 86, once. 
\^^oode, 121, 209, mad. 
\^'raggers, 179, wranglers. 
Wrake, 102, 189, revenge. 
Wranke , 32, a tricl; ? wrong ? 
AVrast, 98, wrest. 
Wrears, 179, perverlers. 



GLOSSARY. 



271 



^rekc, 167, ) 
'^reyclie, 87, ) 



IVrekc, 167, 

IVreyclie . 

Wright, 169, a carpenter. 

Wrolicn, lo, ^ past part. 

Alrokyn, 131, 181, 5 of wrake 

to revenge. 
A\ t, with. 

Wyn , 162, joy, pleasure. 
Wynde, 23, 64, to go. 
Vl'"ys, 33, to know. 
Wyse, 43, ol, way. 
Wytt, 23, 102, to kno^v. 



Yare, 134, apt, ready. 
Yate, 167, 168, a gate. 
Yeh, 231, each 



the 



imp. 



of 



go 



Yede, 103, 12 

or gang. 
Yister, 122, yesterday. 
Yl-a-haylle, 102, ill luck to you, 

ill luck on it. 
Ylk, 158, same. 

Yode, 103, 1 14,theimp.of go or gang . 
Yt, that. 



ERRATA. 



p. 


37, 


1. 11, 


from bottom, for Witt, read With. 


„ 


63, 


„ 23, 


for 00, read goo. 




70, 


„ S, 


from Bottom, for inearnute , read incarnate 




78, 


« i6. 


for Ao , read fordo. 




112, 


„ 17, 


for tylle, read stylle. 




138, 


« 17, 


for hy, read ly. 




169, 


« 21, 


for httew, read knew. 



,b i- 'J 



